Russia extended this Tuesday for 60 days the agreement that allows the export of grain from Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, which was due to expire next Saturday.
“Indeed, the agreement was extended. Its extension was agreed to 60 days,” Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandr Grushko was quoted as saying by the state news agency TASS.
At the same time, the Russian diplomat stressed that Moscow will insist that the promises it made to Russia when the deal was signed be honored.
“This is about the lifting of all sanctions, direct and indirect, on the supply of Russian agricultural products to international global markets,” Grushko stressed.
Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister Oleksander Kubrakov said on Monday that the Russian proposal to extend the grain export deal for just 60 days is at odds with what was signed last July.
“The agreement implies at least 120 days of extension. The Russian position contradicts the document signed by Turkey and the UN,” Kubrakov said on Twitter.
The Ukrainian minister stressed that Ukraine will wait for the United Nations and Turkey, partners in the agreement, to take a position on the Russian proposal.
Ukraine, the United Nations and Turkey agreed with Moscow on November 17, 2022 in Istanbul to extend the “Initiative for the safe transport of agricultural products through the Black Sea” for a period of another 120 days.
Source: TSF