According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow, Russia extended the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea for 60 days – and was opposed by the UN. “The agreement has been extended for 60 days,” ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said yesterday in Moscow at her weekly press conference. More recently, the agreement was extended for 120 days – valid until Sunday. After that, the new 60-day period begins.
UN: Negotiations are ongoing
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, on the other hand, said in New York that talks on the extension are ongoing. He did not provide details on whether there was a request to amend the agreement. According to the text of the contract, the agreement will be extended for 120 days if neither party objects. A change to the agreement, including a new 60-day period, would have to be confirmed by all parties involved and cannot be announced unilaterally.
The agreement on the Black Sea Grain Initiative was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022 and provides for the release of Ukrainian ports for the export of grain, among other things.
After further negotiations with the UN, Russia had promised a 60-day extension, but that too was tied to demands. Moscow complains that Western sanctions are making it harder to export Russian food and fertilizer and making the extension dependent on simplifications for export transactions such as bank payments, transport logistics and insurance. In addition, Russia intends to reuse its pipeline for ammonia through Ukraine, which is currently not in operation.