Ankara/United Nations | Reuters — The Ukraine Black Sea grain deal has been extended for two more months, one day before Russia could have quit the pact over obstacles to its grain and fertilizer exports. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan announced the extension in a televised speech and it was confirmed by Russia and Ukraine. The […] Read more
Black Sea grain deal extended for two months
Agreement has helped to tackle global food crisis
U.N. efforts to save Black Sea grain deal to continue in coming days
Russia demands include restarting ammonia pipeline
United Nations | Reuters — The U.N. aid chief said on Monday efforts will continue in coming days to extend a deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, a pact Russia has threatened to quit effective Thursday over obstacles to its grain and fertilizer exports. The final two ships are due to […] Read more
Black Sea grain deal could be extended two months, Turkish minister says
Inspections of outbound vessels have resumed
Istanbul | Reuters — Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday he thought the Ukraine Black Sea grain deal could be extended for at least two more months, as officials from the parties involved held the first day of talks on an extension in Istanbul. Russia has said it would not extend the pact beyond […] Read more
Russia to keep talking with UN before Black Sea deal deadline
Deal on table for talks Friday in Istanbul
Moscow | Reuters — Russia said on Wednesday that it will keep talking to the United Nations about the future of a deal that allows the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, but would not do anything to harm its own interests. Top UN trade official Rebeca Grynspan is due to travel to Moscow […] Read more
Russian envoy says no breakthrough on grain deal
Ukraine says Moscow blocking ships
Geneva | Reuters — Russia’s envoy to the United Nations in Geneva on Wednesday said “no real progress” had been achieved in resolving issues raised by Moscow over the Black Sea grain deal, which is set to expire next month. Separately, Ukraine accused Russia of blocking the passage of four grain ships from its Black […] Read more
Russia says Black Sea grain deal may be nearly over
Ukraine and UN to blame for backlog of ships, Russia alleges
Moscow | Reuters — Russia on Thursday said there would be no extension of the U.N.-brokered Black Sea grain deal beyond May 18 unless the West removed a series of obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertilizer. The Ukraine grain Black Sea export deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in […] Read more
U.S. pushes back against Russian demands linked to Ukraine grain deal
Russian food, fertilizer already carved out from sanctions, U.S. says
United Nations | Reuters — The United States pushed back on Russian demands that Western sanctions be eased before it allows Ukrainian Black Sea grain exports beyond mid-May, saying there were no restrictions on Russian agricultural products or fertilizer. Moscow’s demands include allowing the Russian Agricultural Bank to return to the SWIFT banking system and […] Read more
UN backs Turkey, Ukraine in call for 120-day grain deal rollover
Text of original deal calls for 120, UN says
United Nations | Reuters — The United Nations backed Turkey and Ukraine on Thursday by calling for a 120-day rollover of an agreement allowing the safe export of grain from several Ukrainian Black Sea ports after Russia said it would only extend the pact for 60 days. The pact is due to expire on Saturday. […] Read more
Russia suggests renewing Black Sea grain deal for shorter term
Moscow says sanctions have created barriers for its exports
Geneva | Reuters — Moscow is suggesting to renew a deal allowing the safe export of grain from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports — but only for a period of 60 days, half the term of the previous renewal, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said on Monday. Vershinin’s statement came after talks with U.N. officials […] Read more
Belarus to allow Ukraine grain transit with no preconditions, U.N. says
Belarus still wants sanctions lifted off fertilizer
United Nations | Reuters — Belarus told the United Nations on Friday that it would allow, without preconditions, the transit of grain from Ukraine through its territory for export from Lithuanian ports, a U.N. spokesman said. Belarus, used by its ally Russia as a staging ground for Moscow’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, said in […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
