Turki: According to Turkish President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the United Nations, a pact that had been set to expire 18th March 2023 and permitted the shipping of Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea has been extended.

Mr. Erdogan stated in a speech that in the western city of Canakkale that the agreement had been reached after discussions with Russia and Ukraine, although he did not say how long the extension had been for.

While the Ukrainian ministry of infrastructure claimed that the agreement had been extended for 120 days, Russia said that it had only consented to a 60-day extension. The deal between the two warring sides, mediated in July by Turkey and the UN, has seen more than 11 million tonnes of agricultural items shipped from three of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, including 4.5 million tonnes of corn and 3.2 million tonnes of wheat.

During Russia’s full-scale invasion in February of last year, warships blocked Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. Yet, the grain agreement has made it possible for exports of vital grain supplies to fight the world food crisis to proceed without incident. The original arrangement was extended for 120 days in November 2022.

Mr. Oleksandr Kubrakov, minister of infrastructure for Ukraine, stated that the most recent extension was for an additional 120 days. Russia preferred a 60-day extension, while Ankara had previously stated that it wanted a 120-day extension. Mr. Kubrakov expressed his gratitude to the UN and Turkey for upholding the terms of the grain agreement.

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