UN optimistic on Ukrainian grain deal extension beyond November
The UN is confident that the grain agreement will be extended (Photo:REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne)
The agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain will be extended, according to UN Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative Amir Mahmoud Abdulla, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported on Oct. 16.
"Everything I’ve heard would intimate that it will not only be extended but potentially expanded," said the official.
The agreement, brokered by the UN and Turkey in July, paved the way for Ukraine to resume grain exports from Black Sea ports that were closed after Russia's invasion. Moscow received guarantees on its own grain and fertilizer exports.
The agreement helped avert a global food crisis: Russia and Ukraine are the world's two largest grain exporters, and Russia is the number one exporter of fertilizer.
However, Moscow has repeatedly complained that it still faces difficulties selling fertilizers and food, and there are fears that it may find reasons to scupper the grain export deal.
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