Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin denounced the sanctions on the Russian agricultural bank Rosselkhozbank, asserting that they are illegal and undermine global food security.
Vershinin said, "This issue is being discussed during consultations, and it naturally does not depend on us. We believe that sanctions in general, as I said, are unilateral and illegal, especially those that affect the area of ensuring global food security, which some in Western capitals appear to be keen on."
A statement issued by the Kremlin website on March 25, 2025, following a meeting of Russian and American expert groups in Riyadh, was published. The statement indicated that, in accordance with the agreement of the Russian and American presidents, the Russian and American sides agreed to ensure the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, which includes ensuring the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, prohibiting the use of force, prohibiting the use of commercial vessels for military purposes, and organizing appropriate monitoring procedures through inspections of these vessels. However, the agreement will only enter into force after several conditions are met, one of which is the lifting of punitive restrictions on Rosselkhozbank.
