China News Network, May 5 Comprehensive foreign media reported that on May 18, local time, Turkey, Russia and Ukraine confirmed that the agreement on the export of agricultural products from Black Sea ports will be extended for another two months, to July 5. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called it "good news for the world."
On the 17th, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan posted on social media that "with our (Turkey's) efforts, the support of Russian friends and the contribution of Ukrainian friends, the Black Sea grain agreement was extended for another two months." Good luck to the people of the world. ”
Infographic: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan pledged that Turkey will continue to work to meet the conditions outlined in the agreement and continue to implement the agreement in the coming time.
According to RIA Novosti, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova said that Russia confirmed the extension of the Black Sea grain agreement for two months to provide an opportunity to ensure global food security. At the same time, Zakharova called for the speedy rectification of the implementation of the memorandum between Russia and the United Nations on the export of Russian food and fertilizers.
Infographic: Zakharova.
She added that Russia's basic assessment of the Istanbul Agreement in 2022 has not changed and distortions in the implementation process should be corrected as soon as possible.
Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Alexander Kubrakov confirmed the renewal of the Black Sea grain agreement on social media Facebook and thanked partners (Turkey and the United Nations) for their unwavering position that the agreement should move forward and work under conditions signed by all parties, according to the Independent News Agency of Ukraine.
Infographic: UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
According to the United Nations website on the 17th, United Nations Secretary-General Guterres welcomed Russia's decision to extend the Black Sea grain agreement. Guterres said that although there are still outstanding issues, the continued implementation of the initiative is "good news for the world". He expressed appreciation to the parties involved in the negotiations for conducting the negotiations "in a constructive spirit of cooperation".
The agreement on the export of agricultural products from Black Sea ports and the memorandum of understanding between the United Nations and Russia on fertilizers and food are crucial to global food security, Guterres said. He wants Ukraine's grain and fertilizer exports with Russia to enter global supply chains "safely and predictably," as envisioned by all participants.
Sullivan, the US president's national security adviser, also said at a White House news conference that extending the food deal is a good thing and that the world should be sure of its prospects.
Infographic: On August 2022, 8, the first ship carrying Ukrainian grain departed from the port of Odessa.
After the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis, the export of agricultural products from Russia and Ukraine through Black Sea ports was disrupted. On July 2022, 7, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement on the resumption of export of agricultural products from Black Sea ports, which was valid for 22 days and extended twice in November 120 and March 2022. When talks were held in March for a renewal, Russia agreed only to a 11-day extension, which expires on May 2023.
The Russian side has repeatedly said that the agreement on the export of agricultural products from Black Sea ports has not been fully implemented, Russia's demands have not been answered, and if restrictions on the export of Russian grain and fertilizers are not lifted, the Russian side may not agree to extend the agreement.
According to the Russian Satellite News Agency, Russian political scientist Andrei Suzdaltsev believes that the termination of the grain agreement may make Ukrainian ports where grain is shipped out no longer safe.