UN chief says Ukraine grain deal extended, expresses appreciation to Türkiye

Photo: AA/File

Secretary-general of the United Nations has announced that a deal securing grain and foodstuffs exports from Ukraine has been extended.

"I welcome the agreement by all parties to continue the Black Sea grain initiative to facilitate the safe navigation of export of grain, foodstuffs and fertilizers from Ukraine," Antonio Guterres said in a tweet today (November 17).

The agreement signed in İstanbul by Russia, Ukraine, Türkiye and the UN in July secures exports from three ports of Ukraine. The extension was agreed on after a quadrilateral meeting between the four parties, said Guterres.

He also expressed his "deep appreciation" to Türkiye and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. "Without their generosity and commitment this initiative would never have been born. Istanbul remains the centre of a remarkable diplomatic achievement."

The UN is also committed to removing obstacles to the export of food and fertilizers from Russia, Guterres also said in the statement.

Since the signing of the agreement, over 11 million tons of grain and other foodstuffs have been exported from Ukraine.

As the quad meeting agreed on the renewal of the BSGI, I want to express my deep appreciation to @RTErdogan & Türkiye. Without their generosity & commitment this initiative would never have been born. Istanbul remains the centre of a remarkable diplomatic achievement.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) November 17, 2022

How the grain deal works

Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to a grain export crisis from Ukraine, one of the largest grain exporting countries in the world. Ukraine accused Russia of stealing the grain in the places it occupied in Ukraine. Turkey is among the places where the stolen grain is sold, according to officials from Ukraine.

Russia denied stealing Ukraine's grain and says the disruption in the grain shipment is caused by the naval mines laid by Ukraine off the Black Sea coasts.

After diplomatic consultations, Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed a deal on July 22 to reopen three ports — Odessa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny — for grain that has been stuck for months because of the invasion.

On July 27, a coordination center to implement the deal opened in İstanbul.

The duty of the center is to provide safe sea transportation of grain and similar food products to be exported from Ukraine.

It consists of five representatives – both military and civilian – each from Türkiye, Russia, Ukraine and the UN.

The center registers and monitors the departure of commercial ships via satellite, internet, and other communication means, and will carry out all its activities in coordination with the parties and the UN.

The ships are be inspected by joint inspection teams at locations deemed suitable for loading at Ukrainian ports and upon arrival at ports in Türkiye.

(VK)