The Black Sea grain deal is gaining momentum for its continuation as the UN is involved in consultations from a Tuesday statement. On March 18, when the deals go defunct or get extended after negotiations.
Black Sea Grain Deal Crucial for Starving Nations
The spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Jens Laerke, said that the agency sees a 60-day time limit permitted by Moscow after the Monday meeting. He added the deal is valid for now, reported Anadolu.
But ideally, the United Nations agency wants a longer substantive agreement to follow these talks, but it is suitable for the agreed-upon period. The agency acknowledged the extension permitted by the Russian Federation for a total of 60 days. Laerke added they support the statement of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that all would be done to keep the integrity of the agreement and keep it rolling, noted Zawya.
Remarks were taken from the weekly UN press briefs from Geneva, Switzerland. He added that several meetings with the representatives of the Russian Federation ended with the desired result as agreed, cited Yahoo.
Media inquired about the process needed to enable the extension, but it will depend on what comes out on Saturday.
Statements from the UN Conference on Trade and Development spokeswoman Catherine Huissoud when asked for more information, indicated nothing else was available. She added that based on the input from all sides is the foundation of the statement from these discussions. Saying no other questions are needed to be concerned with.
Last Monday, Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergey Vershinin relayed to UN officials that Moscow does agree with the extension of the deal, this time with a twist that it will be for only two months. Vershinin is part of the delegation from the Russian Federation, which met with the United Nations agency Conference on Trade and Development, Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief, Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan, and coordinator Martin Griffiths.
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko gave the decision of Moscow on Tuesday about the grain deal, saying that 60 days is the extension negotiated, per TASS.
But the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov ranted that it was contradictory to the former agreement last year signed by Turkey and the UN in July 2022. The grain initiative enabled the export of grain worth 24 million metric tons. About 1,600 voyages in the Black Sea transported 55% of food exports destined for developing nations. This statement came from the agency that coincided with the Russian statement released.
UN Strives To Continue Black Sea Grain Deal
This food deal officially began in July last year when Russia, Ukraine, and the UN approved a tripartite agreement to allow exports from three ports in the Black Sea in Ukraine. It was stopped in February 2022 when the conflict began. In November, it got renewed for 120 days.
UN has gotten Russia's approval to have 60 more days of the Black Sea grain deal, which it is trying to save.
Related Article: Black Sea Grain Deal Needs Extension, Turkey Defense Minister Says
