Ukraine and the United Nations will advocate for the continuation of the "Black Sea Grain Initiative" after March 18, when the deadline of the previous agreement expires.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated this at a joint briefing with the UN Secretary General António Guterres.
"Continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative after March 18 is critically necessary for the whole world," Zelensky noted.
At the same time, the Secretary General emphasized "the extreme importance of continuing the Black Sea Grain Initiative."
Guterres noted that the Black Sea Grain Initiative ensured the export of 23 million tons of grain, thanks to which it was possible to reduce food prices in the world.
"The FAO [Food and Agricultural Organization] food price index decreased by almost 20%. Exports of Ukrainian and Russian grain and fertilizers are necessary for global food security," he emphasized.
Zelensky also thanked Guterres for his "clear condemnation of Russian aggression" and expressed hope that "the personal leadership of the Secretary General will help implement the requirements of the UN Charter."
- On July 22, Russia signed an agreement on unblocking the export of Ukrainian grain from the ports of Odesa, Pivdennyi, and Chornomorsk. Russia and Ukraine signed the agreement separately — each with the UN and Turkey. There are no signatures of Ukraine and Russia on the same document. At the beginning of August, the first caravan of ships left the ports of Odesa.
- On October 29, Russia informed its withdrawal from the "grain agreement". They cited the attack of drones on a ship of the Black Sea Fleet in the Sevastopol Bay as the reason. Already on November 2, Russia changed its mind and returned to the "grain agreement", and on November 17, the agreement was officially extended for another four months.