UN confirms extension of Black Sea Grain Initiative – statement

KYIV. March 19 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The UN has confirmed the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

“The Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed in Istanbul on 22 July 2022, has been extended… We express our gratitude to the Government of Türkiye for the diplomatic and operational support to the Black Sea Grain Initiative,” the UN said in a communiqué, published on Saturday on its website.

“We remain strongly committed to both agreements and we urge all sides to redouble their efforts to implement them fully,” the UN said.

“The Black Sea Grain Initiative, alongside the Memorandum of Understanding on promoting Russian food products and fertilizers to the world markets, are critical for global food security, especially for developing countries,” the UN said in the communiqué.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Oleksandr Kubrakov said that the Grain Deal had been extended for 120 days.

The Grain Deal was signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022. With the participation of the UN, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, two documents were signed – on the creation of a corridor for the export of grain from three Ukrainian ports (Chornomorsk, Odesa and Pivdenny), as well as on the removal of barriers to the export of Russian food and fertilizers. The initiative was extended in November 2022 for 120 days.