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| Grains being unloaded at a Kenyan port in Mombasa, Kenya Nov. 26, 2022, AP |
On Wednesday, a statement from a spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres confirmed that the four-party deal involving Ukraine, Russia, the United Nations, and Turkey to export Ukrainian grains through the Black Sea has been renewed. The deadline for the agreement was set for that night, but Turkish President Erdogan announced the extension of the deal. However, the statement did not mention the specific extension period, which contradicts claims made by Ukraine and Russia.
The agreement, which was reached in July of last year, outlined that each deadline would be extended by 120 days unless any of the parties involved objected. In November of the same year, the agreement was extended by 120 days.
Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Kubrakow twitted that the extension of the grain export agreement had been granted for 120 days. On the other hand, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, as reported by the TASS news agency, stated that Russia had only agreed to a 60-day extension. This decision comes as Russia becomes increasingly dissatisfied with the export of its own agricultural products and fertilizers due to the impact of Western sanctions against the country.
While Russian agricultural products and fertilizers are not directly subject to sanctions, the country claims that banking transactions related to these products are restricted. During a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday, Ambassador Nebenzia emphasized that if there was any interest in continuing Ukrainian grain exports, all sanctions related to Russian agricultural products must be lifted within two months. It appears that the extension period is being used as leverage to push for the easing of sanctions against Russia.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Mr. Guterres emphasized the significance of the extension, stating that it was "extremely important for global food security, especially for developing countries." However, future disputes over the duration of the extension are likely to arise. Turkey's Foreign Minister Cavusior also acknowledged this possibility, stating on the 18th that "we will try to extend it further after two months (60 days)," as reported by Reuters.
The export agreement for Ukrainian grains has played a significant role in mitigating the rise in global grain prices. According to the United Nations, approximately 25 million tons of grain have already been shipped to 45 countries under the agreement.
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