Negotiations to extend a grain supply deal from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports are continuing until a deadline set this week, the UN and Turkey said on Tuesday after Kiev rejected a Russian offer to extend the 60 day agreement.
“The Russians have realized that 60 days (extension) is legally impossible, so they are trying to find a way out,” a senior Ukrainian official said.
Kiev has said it wants to extend the deal for at least another year and that Ukraine intends to include Nikolaev ports.
Recall that the Black Sea Grain Initiative was developed with the mediation of the UN and Turkey in July last year and was extended in November.
After Russia on Monday offered to extend the deal for 60 days, half the length of the previous extension, Russian news agency TASS, quoting Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, said on Tuesday that an agreement had been reached on a 60-day extension.
Moscow then reiterated that the deal did not remove barriers to its food and fertilizer exports.
Ukraine, however, said the July agreement clearly states that an extension of at least 120 days is possible and that the original agreement must be modified if the parties wish to shorten the deadline.
Turkey’s Defense Ministry, which facilitated the deal with the UN, said Moscow had agreed to back a 60-day extension of the deal, but negotiations are ongoing.
A UN spokesman said “informal dialogue” between the UN and parties to the deal was continuing, although direct negotiations with Russia in Geneva had ended.
Ukraine has said it will abide by the terms of the previously agreed deal, which includes a 120-day extension.
“We will strictly adhere to the agreement,” a senior Ukrainian government official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
