Russia’s Medvedev warns Moscow will scrap grain deal if G7 bans exports

On Sunday, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow would terminate the Black Sea Grain deal, which allows Ukraine to export grain, if the G7 banned exports to Russia.

Last week, Japanese government sources told Kyodo that the G7 countries are mulling a near-total embargo on exports to Russia. Russia has regularly threatened to leave the May 18 grain accord.

“This idea from the idiots at the G7 about a total ban of exports to our country by default is beautiful in that it implies a reciprocal ban on imports from our country, including categories of goods that are most sensitive for the G7,” Medvedev said on Telegram.

“In such a case, the grain deal – and many other things that they need – will end for them,” he warned.

The G7 is considering revising its sanctions such that shipments to Russia are immediately barred unless they are on an authorized list. Unless officially blacklisted, Russia can buy goods.

Medvedev, a longtime Putin friend, is Putin’s deputy chair at the important Security Council and heads a government group on weaponry production for the Ukraine war.

Moscow has repeatedly opposed the Black Sea grain deal, the single diplomatic breakthrough of the 14-month Ukraine crisis. If the West does not relax limitations on Russian agricultural and fertiliser exports by May 18, it will withdraw from the project.

The G7’s agriculture ministers urged for the “extension, full implementation and expansion” of the Black Sea grain pact on Sunday.