Turkish President Erdogan says Black Sea grain deal will be extended by two months

The Black Sea grain deal, negotiated by the UN and Turkey last July to help alleviate a global food crisis, has been extended for a further two months, according to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. The agreement was aimed at providing a humanitarian sea corridor to aid grain exports from Ukraine, one of the world’s leading grain exporters, which had been affected by Moscow’s invasion of the country. Moscow joined the original 120-day agreement in November, extending it in March until 18 May, when it would expire if its demands related to agricultural exports were not met.

No new vessels have been approved by the Joint Coordination Center (JCC), comprising senior officials from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations, since 4 May. Authorized vessels are inspected by JCC officials close to Turkey before proceeding to a Ukrainian port to collect their cargo and returning for a final inspection within Turkish waters. The deal enabled 30.3 million tons of grain and food to be exported from Ukraine, with 625,000 tons being shipped by the World Food Program for aid missions in countries including Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Yemen.

Tags: Black Sea Grain Agreement,Russia,Ukraine War


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