On the 17th, Ukraine, Russia, the United Nations and other parties confirmed that the relevant parties to the Black Sea Port Agricultural Products Export Agreement have agreed to extend the agreement for 120 days.

United Nations Secretary-General Guterres issued a statement on the same day, expressing welcome that all parties agreed to extend the agreement in order to ensure the smooth export of grain from Black Sea ports.

　　UN Secretary-General Guterres: I am very moved that Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and the United Nations have agreed to extend the agreement on agricultural products at the Black Sea ports and allow Ukraine to export food for free.

I pledge the full support of the United Nations to the Joint Coordination Center to ensure the smooth implementation of the agreement and remove the remaining obstacles to Russia's grain and fertilizer exports in order to avoid a food crisis next year.

　　The Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure also informed on the 17th that the decision to extend the agreement was reached in Istanbul, the Turkish city where the Joint Coordination Center is located, and that "the United Nations and Turkey are still the guarantors of the agreement."

　　On the same day, the Russian side also confirmed that it agreed to extend the agreement on the export of agricultural products at the Black Sea port, and affirmed the commitment of the United Nations to remove obstacles to Russia's grain and fertilizer exports, saying that the work of the United Nations has made progress.

　　Russian President’s Press Secretary Peskov: The United Nations has promised to ensure the export of Russian grain and fertilizers. Now the efforts of the United Nations have achieved results. We have reached a joint statement with the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe to exempt Russian grain and fertilizer exporters from sanctions.

This is an important and positive development, and this work can eliminate the difficulties faced by all agricultural exports, both direct and indirect.

　　According to statistics, since the signing of the Black Sea Port Agricultural Products Export Agreement, 11.1 million tons of agricultural products have been shipped out of the Black Sea Port, including 4.5 million tons of corn and 3.2 million tons of wheat.

　　However, Russia previously stated that most of the exported Ukrainian grain was shipped to developed countries such as the European Union, and only a very small part was shipped to poor countries most in need such as Somalia.

In addition, due to the impact of US and Western countries’ sanctions on Russia, Russia’s grain and fertilizer exports are facing a series of problems. The Russian side has stated that considering that some Black Sea port agricultural products export agreements involving Russia have not been effectively implemented, Russia will not rule out refusing to extend the agreement.

　　Black Sea Port Agricultural Products Export Agreement

　　In July this year, Russia and Ukraine signed agreements with the United Nations and Turkey respectively, agreeing to establish a joint coordination center to provide security guarantees for the export of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products through the Black Sea, and to ensure that Russian grain and fertilizers enter the international market.

Russia and Ukraine agreed that neither party would attack ships carrying agricultural products. The agreement was valid for 120 days and should expire on November 19. If no party objected, it would be automatically extended.

　　However, at the end of October, Russia accused Ukraine of attacking Russian ships involved in ensuring the safety of the maritime food corridor, and once announced the suspension of participation in the implementation of the agreement on the export of agricultural products to Black Sea ports. After negotiations, Russia agreed to resume the implementation of the agreement earlier this month.

The Russian side has also recently expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of some parts of the agreement involving Russia, pointing out that Russia's grain and fertilizer exports are still blocked by Western sanctions.

(Source: CCTV News Client)