The extension of the Ukrainian grain agreement is close to being concluded
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar says the extension of the Ukrainian grain export deal is close to being concluded, in a statement transmitted Friday by his ministry. “We are heading towards the conclusion of the extension of the cereals agreement”said Mr. Akar during a speech on Thursday, made public on Friday.
A meeting within the framework of the talks regarding the extension of the agreement took place on Thursday in Istanbul, with the participation of Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations. In addition to the extension of the agreement, the resumption of operation of the Togliatti-Odessa pipeline for deliveries of ammonia, an essential chemical component of mineral fertilizer, requested by Moscow, was also discussed, according to a press release from the UN. .
Turkey has managed since the beginning of the conflict to maintain relations with Ukraine and Russia. Ankara was one of the key players in the conclusion of the so-called Black Sea agreement, signed on July 22 for one hundred and twenty days by the UN, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey.
The opening of this maritime corridor, on 1er August, enabled the export of nearly 30 million tonnes of agricultural products from Ukraine, destined for China, Turkey, the European Union, but also for fragile countries that are very dependent on imports from the Black Sea, such as Egypt, Tunisia, Bangladesh or Yemen. The agreement helped alleviate the global food crisis caused by the war and was renewed for four months.
It expires on May 18 and Russia has not agreed to a third renewal. The United States and the United Kingdom had jointly called on Tuesday for the extension of the agreement, denouncing the fact that Russia continues to use food “like a weapon”. Russia denounces the non-application of a second agreement with Ukraine to allow its own grain and fertilizer exports. Moscow complains of not being able to sell its production and its fertilizers because of Western sanctions affecting the financial and logistics sectors in particular.
Ukraine is one of the world’s leading grain producers.