“I am concerned and we are working hard to ensure that it is possible to preserve the Black Sea grain agreement while continuing our work to facilitate Russian exports,” Guterres said at a news conference Monday.
In July 2022, Ukraine and Russia, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, signed the Black Sea Grains Agreement to allow the export of food blocked in Ukrainian ports.
This crucial deal, which helped alleviate the war-induced global food crisis, has been extended several times, but Moscow has threatened to end it if its own food and fertilizer exports are hindered.
In particular, Russia is calling for the resumption of operation of the Togliatti-Odessa pipeline for the supply of ammonia, an essential chemical component for fertilizers.
However, an explosion on that pipeline last week – which Moscow and Kiev blame each other for – could have a “negative impact” on the future of the Black Sea grain deal, the Kremlin warned.
The military offensive launched by Russia in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 has so far led to the flight of more than 14.7 million people – 6.5 million internally displaced persons and more than 8.2 million to European countries -, according to the latest data from the UN. which classifies this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
The Russian invasion – justified by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russian security – was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending arms to Ukraine and to impose on Russia political and economic sanctions.
Source: DN
