the agreement on the export of Ukrainian cereals to the Black Sea extended by two months, announces Turkey

The agreement on the export of Ukrainian cereals by the Black Sea, crucial for the world food supply, has been extended for two months, announced on Wednesday May 18, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that there remained “many unanswered questions” to be settled before extending the agreement concerning Ukraine and Russia, which expired on Thursday evening. Signed last July between the United Nations, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey, the agreement has made it possible to export more than 30 million tonnes of Ukrainian cereals over the past ten months.

Ukraine “grateful”

This agreement, which helped alleviate the global food crisis caused by the war, was previously renewed for 60 days on March 19. In theory, renewals are supposed to be valid for 120 days, but Russia had said it only agreed to a 60-day extension. While Ukrainian grain exports have been able to resume, exports of Russian fertilizers and food products remain hampered by obstacles linked to sanctions imposed by Western countries, Moscow says. These sanctions came after the outbreak of the Russian offensive against Ukraine in February 2022.

After this extension, Ukraine said on Wednesday “grateful” towards Turkey and the UN, sponsors of the negotiations with Russia. The secretary general of the world organization, Antonio Guterres, meanwhile welcomed this extension for two months. “This extension is good news for the world,” he added, while saying he hoped eventually for a broader agreement.“There are still unanswered questions”he also regretted.