Following Russia’s announcement that it would only extend the pact for 60 days, the United Nations sided with Turkey and Ukraine on Thursday and called for a 120-day rollover of an agreement allowing the safe export of grain from Ukrainian Black Sea ports.
On Saturday, the agreement will no longer be in effect. As a result of Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and subsequent blockade of that country’s Black Sea grain exports, the United Nations and Turkey mediated a deal with Russia and Ukraine in July, which was renewed in November to combat a global food crisis.
On Wednesday, Turkey announced that it would continue negotiations to increase the duration of the agreement from 60 to 120 days. Ukraine has also requested that the extension be extended for 120 days.
“The text in the agreement is clear, and it calls for a 120-day rollover,” said U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters that the agreement was being extended for 60 days.
