The agreement between Ukraine and Russia on the export of grain across the Black Sea is extended for 60 days. That is what Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandr Groeshko told state news agency TASS on Tuesday after consultations with the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The grain deal, signed last July, allows the export of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products despite the war. Kyiv insists that the July agreement clearly states that any extension must be for a minimum of 120 days. According to Moscow, it is implementing the extension as agreed in the previous agreement.
After lengthy negotiations, the agreement was extended to March 18 in November. In a Kremlin statement Tuesday, Moscow linked a possible new extension beyond this period to easing Western sanctions against Russia’s food and fertilizer exports.
In the first months of the war, Russia blocked Ukrainian ports. Ukraine is one of the largest grain exporters in the world. To prevent the export of grain and other goods from coming to a standstill and poor countries in particular continuing to face serious shortages, Russia and Ukraine concluded the agreement on the shipping routes. Experts previously told NRC that the grain deal has so far meant little for poor countries.
This article is also part of our live blog: Ukrainian intelligence confirms identity of executed soldier