Crucial Ukrainian grain export deal extended despite disagreement
Ukraine and Russia agreed on Saturday to extend a crucial deal allowing Ukrainian grain exports safe passage through the Black Sea, though the terms of the extension were disputed by the two countries.
Known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the extension was announced by the United Nations in collaboration with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country helped broker the deal. The initiative is a key agenda to help combat worldwide hunger, as it allows for the "safe navigation for the exports of grain and related foodstuffs and fertilizers, including ammonia, from designated Ukrainian seaports," the U.N. said.
More than 25 million metric tons of food have been moved around the world to help combat the global food shortage since the initiative began, the U.N. added.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
However, like most things between Ukraine and Russia, the details of the extension were fraught and tension-filled. While Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov insisted the deal had been extended for 120 days, Russian Foreign Ministry officials told Russian news agency Tass that the extension was only agreed to for 60 days.
Neither the U.N. nor Erdogan confirmed the length of the extension in their announcement, and BBC News noted that "Russia has warned it will not allow the deal to go on longer unless sanctions against Moscow are softened."
The Black Sea Grain Initiative was first agreed to in July 2022 as part of a global collaborative effort. Amidst growing tensions towards the end of 2022, a last-minute extension was agreed to for another 120 days that November to bring the deal into 2023.
Russia had previously walked back any talks of an extension, but agreed to table a deal after international condemnation, with President Biden calling the decision "purely outrageous" and a move that would "increase starvation."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other Hollywood news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
Simone Biles: Rising – an 'elegantly paced and vulnerable' portrait of the gymnast
The Week Recommends Netflix's four-part documentary is more than a 'riveting comeback story'
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Paloma recipe: the cocktail of the summer
The Week Recommends This refreshing drink balances the fresh and fizzy taste of grapefruit soda with a subtle flavour of smooth tequila
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Mushroom edibles are tripping up users
the explainer The psychedelics can sometimes have questionable components
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine's stolen children
Under the Radar Officially 20,000 children have been detained since Russia's invasion in 2022, but the true number is likely to be far higher
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Will Russian advance in Kharkiv prove decisive in Ukraine war?
Today's Big Question Recent gains in northeast could be 'a momentary setback' or a 'turning point', as Kyiv counts the cost of US delay
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
A brief timeline of Russia's war in Ukraine
In Depth How the Kremlin's plan for a quick conquest turned into a quagmire
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Russia jamming GPS in the Baltics?
Under The Radar Satellite location signals are vital for aviation safety but they are 'vulnerable to blocking or distortion'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Aid to Ukraine: too little, too late?
Talking Point House of Representatives finally 'met the moment' but some say it came too late
By The Week UK Published
-
How would we know if World War Three had started?
Today's Big Question With conflicts in Ukraine, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific, the 'spark' that could ignite all-out war 'already exists'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Will Iran attack hinder support for Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Pro-Kyiv allies cry 'hypocrisy' and 'double standards' even as the US readies new support package
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
The issue of women and conscription
Under the radar Ukraine military adviser hints at widening draft to women, as other countries weigh defence options amid global insecurity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published