War in Ukraine: grain export deal extended by 120 days

“An important step in the fight against the food crisis.” The agreement to continue the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea has been extended for 120 days, the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine said on Thursday. “The Black Sea Grain Initiative will be extended for 120 days,” Minister Alexander Kubrakov said.

In total, this agreement made it possible to export more than 11 million tons from Ukrainian ports in four months. Turkey immediately confirmed the extension of the agreement “under the same conditions” that have been observed since July, a senior official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Similarly, Moscow confirmed the extension of the agreement. “The Russian side authorizes a technical extension Black Sea Initiative without changing its terms and scope,” the Russian diplomacy said in a statement.

UN-approved agreement

According to the official, all parties agreed that “the agreement remains in effect for 120 days during the winter months” and that “new agreements” could be made at the end of the unfavorable season. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, one of the sponsors of the agreement, said on Wednesday that he was “convinced” that the agreement would be extended.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also “welcomed” the extension of the agreement. “The UN is fully committed to removing barriers to the export of agricultural products and fertilizers from the Russian Federation,” the statement said.

The uncertainty that affected the future of this commitment immediately caused prices to rebound on international markets, with a tonne of wheat exceeding 354 euros at the end of October on Euronext in session. So the UN and Turkey have engaged in total diplomacy to keep him afloat.