The critical process for the destination of the grain deal

Within the scope of the Black Sea Grain Corridor deal, which allows Ukraine to export grain from Black Sea ports, the last ship will leave the country today, a day before Russia can pull out of the deal and break it.

Russia and Ukraine signed the grain corridor agreement last year, mediated by Turkey and the United Nations (UN), allowing Ukraine to export grain from ports blocked by Russia. The contract must be renewed for periods of 120 days. However, Russia extended the deal by 60 days in March and said it would withdraw from the deal on May 18 if difficulties it experienced in grain and fertilizer exports due to Western sanctions were not resolved.

To persuade Russia to export grain to the Black Sea, the UN agreed in July to support Russian agricultural exports for three years.

According to the Russian media report, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said yesterday: “There are still many unanswered questions about the part of the deal that interests us. Now a decision will have to be made.”

Senior officials from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN met in Istanbul last week to discuss the Black Sea grain corridor deal. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said yesterday: “Communication continues at different levels. Of course, we are at a sensitive point in the process.”

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu stated last week that the agreement could be extended for at least two more months.

Although restrictions on Russia’s grain and fertilizer exports were not implemented, following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Moscow claims that restrictions on payment, logistics and reinsurance companies impede exports. (Reuters)