Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday called for an extension of the Black Sea Grains Initiative, which allowed Ukraine to export grain through ports in the Black Sea during a full-scale Russian invasion.
Following talks in Kiev with Guterres, Zelenskyyy says Black Sea Grains Initiative is ‘essentially necessary’ for the world, while UN chief stresses its importance for global food security and food prices.
The deal, originally brokered by the UN and Turkey in July last year and renewed in November, will be extended on March 18 if neither side objects.
However, Russia’s demands have not yet been met, a source in Turkish diplomatic circles said, adding that Ankara is “making every effort” to see the deal extended.
“I would like to emphasize the crucial importance of expanding the Black Sea Grain Initiative on March 18 and working to create the conditions for the most efficient use of export infrastructure across the Black Sea in accordance with the objectives of the initiative,” António Guterres told reporters in Kiev. .
Russia, which last July lifted a blockade of three Ukrainian Black Sea ports as part of the deal, said it must remove barriers to its own agricultural exports before allowing the deal to go ahead. go forward.
Recall that last year a three-year agreement was concluded, under which the UN agreed to facilitate Russian exports of food and fertilizers. While Russian food and fertilizer exports are not subject to sanctions, Moscow says restrictions on its payments, logistics and insurance are a “barrier” to such supplies.
Zelenskyyy and Guterres also discussed security at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is occupied by Russian troops.
Guterres noted that security around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is “vital”. IAEA observers are at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant and are trying to create a demilitarized zone around it.
