The UN is concerned about the slowdown in grain exports from Ukrainian ports

The UN is concerned about the ongoing slowdown in the implementation of the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea ports, the press secretary of the organization, Stephan Dujarrik, said on Thursday.

According to him, only 33 ships left Ukrainian ports in May, which is less than half of the volume of shipments in April. Dujarric noted that the international organization intends to promote the full renewal of the agreement with the participation of Ukraine and Russia.

Earlier on Thursday, the Ukrainian Ministry of Reconstruction and Infrastructure announced that the grain initiative to export agricultural products from Ukraine via the Black Sea has been suspended again. The Ukrainian Ministry accused Russia of this. It is confirmed that she has blocked the registration of vessels in all Ukrainian ports.

“The Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul (supervising the initiative) announced the impossibility of drawing up an inspection plan for June 1 due to another unjustified refusal of the Russian delegation to register the arriving fleet,” – the Voice of America report from Kyiv reports.

Ukraine called Russia’s actions a “gross violation” of the agreement. The Ukrainian side claims that, starting from mid-April, Russia “unreasonably limited” the work on the agreement. 50 vessels are now awaiting inspection in the territorial waters of Turkey and are ready to deliver 2.4 million tons of Ukrainian vessels abroad. Some courts are waiting for inspection for more than 3 months.

The reaction of the Russian authorities to the application has not yet been given.

In May, Russia agreed to extend the grain deal for another two months, but emphasized that the agreement may be terminated if obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertilizer are not removed.

• The agreement, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, was concluded separately by Russia and Ukraine with the UN and Turkey in Istanbul last July. It provides a mechanism for the export of grain and other food products from Ukrainian ports.
• Until July, after Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine, the ports of Ukraine were completely blocked, the UN and many countries declared that the blockade of food exports from the country could lead to global consequences, up to famine in the poorest countries.