The head of Russian diplomacy has threatened to suspend the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports if sales of Russian agricultural products remain hampered.
The agreement son Ukrainian grain exports going to be extended? Traveling to Turkey on Friday April 7, the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, threatened not to renew this text if“there is no progress in removing barriers to Russian fertilizer and grain exports”. Franceinfo takes stock of what to remember from the day on the conflict.
Moscow threatens to end the agreement allowing the export of Ukrainian cereals
“If there is no progress in removing barriers to Russian fertilizer and grain exports, we will wonder if” the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports “is necessary”, warned Sergei Lavrov, during a trip to Ankara, Turkey. The agreement, which allows Ukrainian grain to be exported via the Black Sea despite the war, was extended on March 19. Since its signing in July 2022, the agreement has enabled the export of nearly 25 million tonnes of grain from Russia and Ukraine.
Moscow insists on respecting the other part of the agreement, which concerns its own fertilizer exports. In theory, these products do not fall under the Western sanctions imposed on Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. But they are in fact hindered by the banks.
The ruble plunges to its lowest in a year
The Russian currency fell to its lowest in a year on Friday, plunging at the end of the day to 81 rubles for the dollar and 88.9 for the euro. For a year now, Russia has been insisting that it is resisting the sanctions adopted in the West in response to the assault on Ukraine, citing in particular the resistance of the rouble as proof.
But after a year of sanctions, and with Europe largely weaned off Russian gas and the imposition of a Russian oil price cap, the outlook for the Russian economy is bleaker. Vladimir Putin himself admitted last week to expect consequences “negatives”.
The American Journalist Evan Gershkovich charged with ‘espionage’ in Russia
Arrested in Russia last week, Evan Gershkovich was formally charged with “espionage” on Friday. The Russian News Agency Mug states that the American journalist has “categorically” denied the charges against him. He is being prosecuted on the basis of article 276 of the Russian criminal code, a charge punishable by 20 years in prison.
Correspondent in Russia of the prestigious American daily The Wall Street Journal and former AFP journalist in Moscow, Evan Gershkovich, was arrested in Yekaterinburg, a city in the Urals, by the Federal Security Service (FSB). THE wall street journal and the reporter deny the accusations against him.
Pentagon investigates leak of classified documents
The Pentagon tries to identify the source of leaks of classified documents, supposed to detail the strategy of the United States and NATO to support Ukraine, in view of a planned offensive against Russian troops, revealed on Thursday New York Times (article in English). These files were posted this week on social media.
According to the American daily, these documents date from the beginning of March. If they do not reveal a precise battle plan concerning the Ukrainian counter-offensive expected in the coming weeks, they do give an inventory of the needs of the Kiev army.