Grain deal extended for another 120 days – Ministry of Infrastructure
The grain agreement for exporting agricultural products from Ukrainian ports has been extended for another 120 days.
This was announced by Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine, Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine.
According to him, Ukraine will continue to export its agricultural products through three ports on the Black Sea.
– The agreement on the Grain Initiative has been extended for another 120 days… This means that Ukraine continues to export its agricultural products through three deep sea ports, – Kubrakov emphasized.
He clarified that since August 1 last year, when the grain corridor began operating, 25 million tons of products had been exported.
Kubrakov thanked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and partner countries “for their efforts to extend the document for another four months.”
At the same time, Kubrakov said, the main challenge remains to speed up inspections of ships in Turkey.
– This will allow the world to receive even more Ukrainian agricultural products – he said.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that Ukraine continues to work to ensure that ports in Mykolaiv region join the grain initiative in addition to Odesa ports. In addition, Kyiv wants to expand the range of cargo.
– Ukraine has been firmly embedded in the global economy and markets. The ability to export more will help to remove inflationary risks and, as a result, social tensions in many countries, – Kubrakov summarized.
As you know, the grain deal was signed on July 22, 2022, in Istanbul. It unblocked the export of agricultural products, including grain, from Ukraine through the Black Sea. Exports are made from the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi.
Ukraine signed this document with the UN and Turkey. Russia signed a separate agreement.
The Grain Initiative was set to expire on Saturday, March 18, and negotiations were underway to extend the document.
Disagreements arose over the term of the agreement: Russia wanted to reduce it to 60 days. At the same time, Ukraine emphasized that 120 days is the minimum permissible period stipulated in the document.
Source: Facebook page of Oleksandr Kubrakov
Photo: Turkish Ministry of Defense
