“The continuation of the Black Sea Initiative is essential, as is the parties’ recommitment to its smooth and effective implementation,” Griffiths told a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine. .
“We will continue to call on everyone to take responsibility as the world watches us closely,” he added.
The United Nations and Turkey brokered the Black Sea deal in July to help tackle a global food crisis exacerbated by the crisis in Ukraine, one of the world’s largest grain exporters.
In the meantime, the United Nations has agreed to help Moscow facilitate the export of its agricultural products.
Griffiths met in Istanbul last week with senior officials from Russia, Ukraine and Turkey, but no Russian approval was secured to extend the deal.
“These efforts will continue and intensify in the coming days,” Griffiths said Monday.
Russia has revealed a list of demands for its agricultural exports that it wants to meet in order to agree to extend the deal.
These demands include the restart of a pipeline carrying Russian ammonia to a Ukrainian port on the Black Sea, which the United Nations is pushing for.
“The Black Sea Initiative refers to the export of ammonia, but that hasn’t happened yet,” Griffiths said.
Although these Russian exports are not subject to Western sanctions imposed after the Ukraine crisis in February 2022, Moscow says restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance have hampered shipments.
“Food exports under the Black Sea Initiative and food and fertilizer exports from the Russian Federation continue to make a vital contribution to global food security,” Griffiths said.
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