The United Nations and Turkey announced the extension of the agreement to export Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea
An agreement allowing Ukraine to ship grain from its Black Sea ports expires on Saturday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the United Nations announced that an agreement allowing Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea, which was due to expire on Saturday, had been renewed.
Erdogan said in a speech in the western city of Canakkale on Saturday that the agreement was concluded after talks with Russia and Ukraine, but did not specify how long the agreement would be extended.
Agreement between the warring parties mediated in July Turkey and the United NationsIt saw the shipment of more than 11 million tons of agricultural products from Ukraine’s three ports on the Black Sea, including 4.5 million tons of corn and 3.2 million tons of wheat.
“This deal is of vital importance to the global food supply,” Erdogan said in televised remarks. “I thank Russia and Ukraine, who did not spare their efforts for a new extension, as well as the Secretary-General of the United Nations.”
Before the war, Ukraine was one of the world’s largest plantation producers, and the so-called Black Sea Grain Initiative helped calm a global food crisis sparked by the conflict.
“Ukraine is one of the world’s largest exporters of sunflower oil, as well as wheat and grain,” said Al Jazeera’s Stephanie Decker, from the Kiev suburbs. “What is produced here – and what is exported – has a direct impact on food prices around the world.”
Russia’s all-out invasion in February last year saw warships block Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.
But the grain deal allowed safe passage for exports of vital grain supplies to combat A global food crisis. The initial agreement in November was extended by 120 days.
Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said the latest extension was for another 120 days. Ankara had said earlier that it wanted a 120-day extension Russia was in favor of a 60-day extension.
Kubrakov thanked the United Nations and Turkey for their commitment to the agreements on the grain deal.
“[The] “The Black Sea Grain Initiative agreement has been extended by 120 days,” Kubrakov said on Twitter. Grateful to Antonio Guterres, the United Nations, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, [Defence] Minister Hulusi Akar and all our partners for their commitment to the agreement.”
#BlackSeaGrainInitiative The agreement has been extended by 120 days. grateful for @employee @United nationsAnd President Erdogan, Minister Hulusi Akar and all our partners for their commitment to the agreements. Thanks to our joint efforts, 25 million tons of grain have been delivered to world markets pic.twitter.com/4bye93iQ7d
Oleksandr Kubrakov. March 18, 2023
