ANKARA (Reuters) – Russia has agreed to extend a deal that allows Ukraine to ship grain across the Black Sea to famine-stricken parts of the world, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. It announced that Via’s year-long war had pushed prices higher.
“I want to bring you good news,” Erdogan said. “Thanks to our efforts, the support of our Russian friends and the contributions of our Ukrainian friends, the Black Sea Grains Initiative has been extended for another two months.”
Turkey and the United Nations negotiated a landmark agreement with the belligerents last summer, which was accompanied by separate agreements to facilitate Russia’s food and fertilizer supplies, but which the Russians have not agreed to. has not been fulfilled.
Russia had threatened to withdraw if concerns were not resolved by Thursday. Such risky approaches are nothing new.
Pressed for a similar extension in March, Russia unilaterally decided to extend the treaty for 60 days instead of the 120 days stipulated in the agreement.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed the extension and that problems would need to be resolved “at the technical level.” Neither she nor Erdogan mentioned any concessions Moscow may have received.
“We will continue our efforts to ensure that all the conditions of the agreement are fulfilled so that it continues in the next period,” said Erdogan, who announced the highly anticipated decision two days after being forced into a runoff in Turkey’s presidential election.
Extending the Black Sea Grain Initiative is a win for countries in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia that rely on Ukrainian wheat, barley, vegetable oil and other affordable food products, especially as drought takes a toll. The deal helped lower prices of food commodities like wheat over the last year, but that relief has not reached kitchen tables.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Kubrakov wrote on Facebook that “the world will continue to receive Ukrainian products thanks to the efforts” of Turkey and the U.N.
He blamed Russia for dragging its heels on joint inspections of ships by Russian, Ukrainian, U.N. and Turkish officials and emphasized that it welcomed the continuation of deal but it “has to work effectively.”
Average daily inspections — meant to ensure vessels carry only food and not weapons that could aid either side — have steadily dropped from a peak of 10.6 in October to 3.2 last month. Ukrainian grain shipments have also fallen in recent weeks.
Russia has denied slowing down work. Since May 6, no ships have been cleared to enter the three open Ukrainian ports, and Kubrakov said nearly 70 ships were waiting in Turkish waters to join.
Meanwhile, Russia is rushing to ship its bountiful wheat harvest from other ports. Critics say this suggests the Kremlin is trying or looking to force concessions in other areas, such as sanctions from Western countries.
