Ukraine Conflict: UN Welcomes Russia’s 60-day Extension Of Black Sea Deal

The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, has lauded the extension of the Black Sea deal by Russia for another 60 days (two months).

Russia announced the extension a day to when the deal was meant to expire.

Writing on his official Twitter handle, the UN chief said: “I welcome the confirmation by the Russian Federation to continue its participation in the Black Sea Initiative for another 60 days.

“Even in the darkest hours, there is always a beacon of hope and an opportunity to find solutions that benefit everyone.”

He told reporters that “Looking ahead, we hope that exports of food and fertilisers, including ammonia, from the Russian Federation and Ukraine will be able to reach global supply chains safely and predictably.”

According to a Turkish media, more than 30.2 million tons of grain have departed Ukraine since when the first ship set sail on August 1st 2022.

951 ships have been used to transport grains and other foods from Ukraine to areas that need them most especially in countries like Somalia, Yemen, Ethiopia and Kenya.

According to Al Jazeera, Russia threatened to not extend the deal for another 60 days until its “systemic concerns” regarding its agricultural demands had been resolved. But backtracked because Moscow has not “lost hope” that it concerns regarding the deal will be looked into.

Speaking to reporters, Antonio Guterres noted that not all issues have been ironed out but there will be more engagements between the UN, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine on the matter.

The Black sea deal is a deal brokered by the United Nations last July between Ukraine Russia and Turkey to allow the safe passage of Grains from war-torn Ukraine through the international waters of the Black sea to other parts of the world that desperately need food supply.

The deal freed millions of tons of grain and other foods that would otherwise be stuck in Ukraine as a result of the ongoing conflict thereby triggering wide spread hunger and starvation and rising cost of food prices.

The deal, known as the “Black Sea Grain Initiative,” was renewed for the second time on March 19.