War in Ukraine. Russia has agreed to extend the Ukrainian grain deal for only 60 days

Moscow has accepted the extension of the Ukrainian grain export agreement for only 60 days, not 120 days, as stated by Kiev, the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday. “We see statements from various parties that the grain deal has been extended for 120 days– stated Maria Zakharova, quoting the Russian Interfax agency. “We have repeated several times that (…) the Russian side has informed all interested parties that the contract has been extended for 60 days.“.

Indeed, the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov, in his turn, noted that the agreement was extended for 120 days. “The Black Sea grain initiative has been extended for 120 days. We thank you Antonio Guterres The United Nations, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, (Turkey’s Defense Minister) Hulusi Akar and all our partners to ratify this agreement.“, he wrote on Twitter.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced this extension on Saturday, March 18, during a televised speech, without specifying its duration. “After negotiations with both parties (Ukraine and Russia, editor’s note), we secured an extension of the contract, which was due to expire on March 19.– said the head of Turkey. Ankara earlier said it hoped for a 120-day extension, while Russia insisted on 60 days.

Mitigating the global food crisis

“This agreement is vital to the global food supply. I thank Russia and Ukraine, who have spared no effort to renew the agreement again, and the Secretary-General of the United NationsErdogan said: The Black Sea Grains Initiative, signed in July 2022 by Ukraine, Russia and Turkey with the help of the United Nations, eased the global food crisis caused by the war in Ukraine by allowing the export of almost 25 million tons of corn, wheat and other varieties. cereals.

By its terms, the agreement was to be “is automatically extended for the same period (120 days, editor’s note) unless one party notifies the other of its intention to terminate or modify it.“. in November it was effectively extended by 120 days until Saturday, March 18 at 11:59 PM Istanbul time. But on March 13, Russia, unhappy with the implementation of the second agreement to facilitate the export of its own fertilizer, announced that it would accept an extension of only 60 days.

Since then, the UN has done everything possible to save this mechanism, which helped to moderate the rise in prices after the February 24, 2022 invasion of Ukraine. indicated on Friday that it still hopes for a 120-day extension.