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UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls on all parties to make efforts to extend the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports, including facilitating shipments of Russian grain.
The agreement between the occupying power Russia and Ukraine, brokered by Turkey, has allowed the export of more than nine million tons of Ukrainian grain. Something that mitigates the global food crisis caused by the war, although uncertainty about the future of the agreement has also led to rising prices.
But signals are coming from the Russian side that they do not want to extend the agreement unless sanctions are lifted from Russian fertilizer exports.
The original agreement was set to run for 120 days, with the possibility of renewal on November 19 “if neither party objects”.
“We call on all parties to make every effort to renew the Black Sea Agreement and fully implement both agreements, including accelerating the removal of all remaining barriers to Russian grain and fertilizer exports,” Guterres spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement.
“We don’t underestimate the challenges, but we know they can be overcome,” he points out.
Moscow has complained that Russia cannot sell fertilizer because of Western sanctions.
Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia says Russian exports must be allowed before Moscow can commit to extending the deal.
Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a possible decision by Moscow to leave the grain agreement would be met with “great anger” by countries around the world.