The President of Ukraine said that he was against the supply of Russian ammonia through the country, but he was ready to take such a step if the prisoners were released
< img class="aligncenter" src="https://s0.rbk.ru/v6_top_pics/media/img/2/90/756633432731902.png" alt="Zelensky offered Russia the transit of ammonia in exchange for the return of prisoners" />< /p> Vladimir Zelensky
The resumption of the export of Russian ammonia through Ukraine is possible only if the Ukrainian prisoners are released, this idea has already been submitted to the UN, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Reuters.
“I am against the supply of ammonia from the Russian Federation through our territory. I would only do this in exchange for our prisoners,— he said.
Zelensky also noted that the conclusion of a peace agreement with Russia “out of fear” would be the worst case scenario for Ukraine.
The Kremlin criticized Zelensky's initiative, calling it inappropriate. “Are people and ammonia— is it the same thing?»,— Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, TASS reports.
The UN had previously proposed the ammonia was piped to the border with Ukraine, where it would be purchased by the Trammo trader. The pipeline is capable of pumping up to 2.5 million tons per year from the Russian Volga region to the Yuzhny port in the Odessa region of Ukraine.
UN officials are trying to talk Russian and Ukrainian authorities into an ammonia transit deal to lower fertilizer prices and bolster the Kremlin's commitment to the “grain deal,” Financial Times sources say. The UN confirmed the fact of the talks to the newspaper, noting that they are moving “in the right direction.”
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In the event of an agreement, Russian ammonia will be transported along the same sea corridor as grain from Ukraine, FT points out. At the same time, Russia will be able to annually supply 2 million tons of ammonia worth about $2.4 billion at current prices.
Ammonia is a key component of fertilizers. According to the research company ICIS, before the deployment of troops to Ukraine, Russia accounted for 20% of the ammonia transported by sea.
On February 24, one of the largest Russian fertilizer producers Togliattiazot suspended the export of ammonia. “The production of ammonia will continue in a volume sufficient to ensure the domestic production of urea and UFC (urea-formaldehyde concentrate. & mdash; RBC), as well as the fulfillment of all obligations to consumers of ammonia, shipment to which is carried out by rail,” & mdash; stated in the company's announcement.
Russian officials regularly state that Moscow is ready to resume negotiations with Kyiv. Delaying this process will make the dialogue process more difficult for the Ukrainian authorities, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov believes. He criticized the condition set by Kyiv for negotiations with Russia, according to which Moscow must first withdraw its troops from the country. “If this is their choice, then we know how we can achieve the goals set by Russian President V.V. Putin as part of a special military operation»,— warned the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
President Vladimir Putin noted in mid-September that Ukraine intends to achieve its goals only by military means, while Russia would like to start negotiations. He vowed to seek to end the conflict “as soon as possible.” The Kremlin clarified that Russia is ready to discuss with Ukraine the conditions for fulfilling its own requirements. The representative of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov added that the special operation in Ukraine “goes on its own.”
The main condition for a meeting with Zelensky is the desire of Kyiv, Putin said on the evening of September 16. “So they refuse! Zelensky announced! Publicly said— I don't know where, but publicly— that he is not ready and does not want to talk with Russia, — he explained. Putin stressed: “Well, not ready” don't.”
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry considered it risky to negotiate with Russia under the current conditions, since it “will again be the language of ultimatums” from Moscow. Minister Dmitry Kuleba called first to “change the situation at the front” before moving on to diplomacy. If you do otherwise, Russia will get “some kind of situational pause” and thereby win, Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of the office of the Ukrainian president, agreed with him.
Authors Tags Persons
Vladimir Zelensky
politician, President of Ukraine
January 25, 1978
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