The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine allowed the transit of ammonia subject to guarantees for the safe export of grain from Russia and the UN

Ukraine may agree to the transit of Russian ammonia through the territory of the country if Russia and the UN provide guarantees for the safe export of grain as part of a grain deal. The agency reported Reuters with reference to the statement of Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Yuriy Vaskov. The restoration of ammonia transit is one of the key conditions for the Russian side to extend the deal.

“If this is a key issue, then the UN should clearly say that Ukraine will receive such an opportunity (to supply grain stably.— ”b”) in case of resumption of transit of ammonia. Then our political leadership will decide whether it is in our interests or not,” Yury Vaskov said at a press conference.

May 19 agency Reuters citing a source in the Ukrainian government, reported that Ukraine would allow the transit of ammonia only subject to the expansion of the grain deal. In particular, we are talking about increasing Ukrainian ports and the range of goods supplied. According to the current agreement, deliveries are made from the Ukrainian ports of Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny.

The resumption of ammonia supplies is being discussed as part of a grain deal – an agreement between Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the UN on the export of grain from the Black Sea ports. Ammonia is a key ingredient in fertilizers. Its transit from Tolyatti to Odessa via a special ammonia pipeline was suspended on February 24, 2022 due to the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine.

In November 2022, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky opposed the supply of ammonia from Russia through Ukrainian territory and noted that he could allow transit only on the condition of the exchange of prisoners of war according to the “all for all” formula.

More details about the deal can be found in Kommersant’s material “Wheat floats further”.

Lusine Balasyan