Despite the ongoing conflict with Russia, an agreement allowing Ukraine to export millions of tonnes of grain through the Black Sea has been extended.
However, its duration is uncertain, with Ukraine advocating for 120 days and Russia for 60 days.
Russia has warned that it will not allow the agreement to continue unless sanctions against it are eased.
Fears of a global food calamity prompted the UN and Turkey to help broker the export agreement last July.
Ukraine is one of the world’s leading grain producers, but its access to Black Sea ports was obstructed by Russian warships after the invasion in February of last year.
Food-insecure nations like Yemen rely heavily on these supplies.
On Saturday, hours before the arrangement was set to expire, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced an extension agreement.
“This agreement is crucial for the global food supply.” “I thank Russia and Ukraine, who spared no effort to secure a new extension, as well as the secretary general of the United Nations,” he said.
But neither Mr. Erdogan nor the UN specified the duration. Ukraine desired a 120-day extension, but Russia was only willing to extend the accord for another 60 days.
Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, stated on Friday that the EU, UK, and US had two months to eliminate any sanctions targeting Russia’s agricultural sector if they wished to continue the agreement.
Moscow says Western sanctions block Russian producers from exporting more food and fertilizer.
Russia claims that payments, insurers, and shippers limit exports, even though food and fertilizer have not been targeted.
Russia left the agreement in November, charging Ukraine of attacking its fleet in Crimea, but returned a few days later.
The UN estimates that Ukraine’s Black Sea ports have exported 25 million tonnes of food.
