Monitoring Desk
KYIV: UN chief Antonio Guterres said in Kyiv Wednesday that it was crucial to extend the international accord that allowed grain exports to resume from war-torn Ukraine.
Russia’s February invasion saw Ukraine’s Black Sea ports blocked by Russia’s warships until a deal last summer allowed for the exports of critical grain supplies.
The grain deal, which will automatically renew on March 18 unless Moscow or Kyiv objects, was inked by Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the United Nations last July.
“I want to emphasize the critical importance of the rollover of the Black Sea Grain Initiative on March 18 and of working to create the conditions to enable the possible use of export infrastructures through the Black Sea,” Guterres said during a visit to Kyiv.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky meanwhile said it was “critically necessary for the entire world” to renew the deal.
UN chief says grain deal contributes to lower global food cost
The grain deal has made possible the export of 23 million tons of grain from three separate Ukrainian ports, the UN chief said.
It has “contributed to lowering the global food cost and has offered critical relief to masses, who are also paying a high price for Ukraine war, particularly in the developing world,” Guterres said.
“Exports of Ukrainian — and Russian — food and fertilizers are critical to global food security and food prices,” the UN chief added.
Under last year’s grain deal, Russia was promised the right to export fertilizer free from Western sanctions. Russia insists that part of the deal has not been respected.
