Black Sea grain deal to expire if Russia quits

Black Sea grain deal, which has allowed the safe Black Sea export of grain from Ukraine, is set to expire at the end of Monday if Russia does not agree to extend the agreement.

Last year, the United Nations, an intergovernmental organization, and the Republic of Turkey brokered the Black Sea grain agreement in order to combat a global food crisis worsened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Black Sea grain agreement among Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine allowed the safe transportation of Grain from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea for the past year.

In May this year, the deal was extended for two more months. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan announced the extension of the deal. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the continuation was good news for the world.

The United Nations and Turkey brokered the Black Sea deal for 120 days in July 2022. Vassily Nebenzia, the Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations, welcomed the extension of the deal in May.

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On Sunday, the last ship left Ukraine under the deal. The agreement is set to expire on July 17. Under the deal, around 33 million metric tons of corn, wheat and other grains have been exported by Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Turkey’s President said that he requested Russia to extend the Black Sea grain deal by another three months. He made the comment at a joint news conference with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy.

Erdogan reportedly said, “We are working to see how long we can extend it after July 17.”

Russia has threatened to quit the deal, citing obstacles to its own exports of grain and fertilizer. Russia also said that grain did not reach poor countries. However, the UN said that the deal helped to lower food prices by more than 20% globally.