US unsure UN's talks with Russia will free stranded Ukrainian grain at Black Sea ports

As United Nations held talks with government of Russian Federation to free Ukrainian grains stranded at ports in Black Sea, Biden ministration officials appeared highly sceptical about wher discussions would yield any fruitful results. US State Department officials have cited recent remarks me by Vlimir Putin that he would remove blocke of Ukraine's ports in exchange for relieving sanctions coordinated by US, EU, UK and ally nations. 

“It’s hard to view Russian offers in good faith considering how y are actively and intentionally destroying food products in Ukraine and exacerbating global food insecurity,” a US official, who wasn’t identified with name told Politico in context to Russia’s blocke of Black Sea ports that has been hindering Ukraine’s grain exports. 

Some of Republican officials on Foreign Relations Committee labelled Moscow’s demand for sanctions relief in exchange for easing Black Sea blocke as “blackmail.”

Russia's Putin's proposal 'complicating fragile negotiation'

Kremlin's proposal is complicating  'fragile' negotiations, a UN official told Politico. talks were held just two days ago by a top humanitarian official of UN to remove blocke in Russia. An official from United States described Kremlin's proposal of blocke removal as “extortion diplomacy.” Biden ministration officials have rejected prospects of easing any ecomic pressure on Kremlin in exchange for a deal to let Ukrainian grains transit Black Sea. It is to te that Kremlin has also held a separate negotiation with Turkey. latter has also requested Russia to allow a safe pass for Ukrainian grain to world market as developing nations grapple with a high rate of inflation and food crisis. 

A UN official, Martin Griffiths, on Friday, met with   Russian officials from ministries of defense and foreign affairs for lifting Ukraine’s Black Sea ports blocke.  Rebeca Grynspan, or UN official leing negotiations, rejected Kremlin officials’ demands for sanctions relief. “ bottom line is that, apart from leveraging overland routes, we need to get ports back up and running so we can boost food supplies for those most in need,” a State Department spokesperson told Politico on condition of anymity. US Ambassor to UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield also expressed support for discussions being held between UN, Turkey, and Russia. 

Thomas Greenfield refuted Vlimir Putin’s claims that sanctions have been keeping Russia from exporting agricultural products like fertilizer, which has caused global food short leing to uncontrollable inflation.

In a telephone conversation on May 28, Russia's President Vlimir Putin offered to his French counterpart President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz assurance of transporting blocked Ukrainian grains provided West removed barr of sanctions imposed on Russia. "Russia is rey to help find options for unhindered export of grain, including export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports," Kremlin account of conversation, stated. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in turn told his Ukrainian ally, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, that Britain is rey to help free Ukraine's stranded grain exports along with G7 partners. 

"[Johnson] said that U.K. would work with G7 partners to push for urgent progress" on grain exports, London's reout of Johnson-Zelenskyy's telephonic conversation said. " leers agreed next steps and imperative for Russia to relax its blocke and allow safe shipping lanes."