The deal allowing Ukrainian exports of grain from Black Sea ports was extended for 120 days from Nov. 18 without any changes. “I welcome the agreement by all parties to continue the Black Sea grain initiative to facilitate the safe navigation of export of grain, foodstuffs and fertilizers from Ukraine,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said. He said the UN was also “fully committed to removing the remaining obstacles to exporting food and fertilizers from the Russian Federation” – a part of the deal Moscow sees as critical.
The export of Russian ammonia via a pipeline to the Black Sea has not yet been agreed as part of the renewal. But the Kremlin said it had been given assurances by the UN work will be finalized on removing barriers to Russia’s exports of agricultural products and fertilizers. Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have said commitments to secure the removal of Western barriers - both direct sanctions on a state agricultural bank and the indirect impact of sanctions on Russia’s shipping and financial sectors - are a crucial part of the deal.
The UN and Ukraine had sought a one-year extension of the deal.