War against Ukraine: Russia agrees to extend grain deal

Status: 03/14/2023 02:08 am

Russia has already agreed to extend the grain deal with Ukraine by 60 days. However, this is shorter than originally intended – and Moscow has conditions.

Russia has approved an extension of the agreement on further exports of Ukrainian grain through three Black Sea ports. However, unlike before, this should only apply for 60 more days, according to a statement by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Verchinin. It was published on the website of the Russian embassy in Geneva in the evening. There, representatives of Russia had negotiated with the United Nations (UN) on Monday.

The agreement of July 2022 also included a promise by the UN to work towards facilitating Russian exports, especially of fertilizers. Because of Western sanctions, however, this remains difficult.

Deal would have expired at the weekend

According to Verchinin, Moscow is making the approval of a further extension dependent on progress in these export deals. Among other things, bank payments, transport logistics and insurance would have to be made easier. Moscow is also insisting on the reopening of Russia’s ammonia pipeline, which runs through Ukraine. It has not been in operation since the Russian attack on the neighboring country in February 2022.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative Agreement, mediated by the UN and Turkey, was initially valid for 120 days and was extended once by 120 days. It would have expired at the weekend. The initiative brought a good 23 million tons of grain onto the world market and also benefited the poorest countries.

Agreement should be extended for another 120 days

In Geneva, an extension of 120 days was actually negotiated. The Ukrainian side said the Russian proposal for an extension of just 60 days violated the original agreement.

Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov said it would extend the deadline by at least 120 days. He tweeted that Ukraine was awaiting the official position of the United Nations and Turkey as a participant in the initiative.

The UN reiterated its support for the deal as “part of the global response to the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.”

source site