Grain export deal extended for another four months, says infrastructure minister
A grain deal struck between Turkey, the UN, and Russia has been extended for another 120 days. (Photo:Oleksandr Kubrakov via Facebook)
A grain deal struck between Turkey, the UN, and Russia has been extended for another 120 days, allowing Ukraine to continue exporting agricultural goods through its Black Sea ports, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov wrote on Facebook on Nov. 16.
“The decision has just been made in Istanbul,” he reported. The UN and Turkey will remain as guarantors of the initiative.
The minister pointed out that Ukraine has exported more than 11 million tons of agricultural products to 38 countries since the start of the grain export deal.
“This is a significant amount, but insufficient,” he stressed.
“The world market has no opportunity to replace Ukrainian agricultural products in the near future.”
Kubrakov noted the Ukrainian side had officially appealed to the partners with a proposal to extend the initiative for at least one year and to include the Mykolayiv Sea Port in it, which is currently still under blockade by Russian naval forces.
He also emphasized the importance of ensuring the effective work of the Joint Coordination Center.
Earlier the Financial Times newspaper reported that Russia may be allowed to export ammonia through the same unblocked route that Ukraine currently uses to export agricultural products, in order to continue the work of the “grain corridor.”
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