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Three new ships were authorized on Thursday to take part in a deal allowing the safe export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, the United Nations said, with global wheat prices falling a day after Russia agreed to extend the pact for another 60 days.
Russia had threatened to abandon the Black Sea deal if a list of demands to overcome obstacles to its own grain and fertilizer exports were not met by May 18. The Kremlin said on Thursday that it had extended the agreement because some results of negotiations gave it “certain hopes”, but that further progress was needed.
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The United Nations and Turkey brokered the deal for an initial 120 days in July last year to help tackle a global food crisis worsened by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, one of the world's biggest grain exporters.
The deal broke down on Wednesday after the last authorized ship left a Ukrainian port.
Authorities from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN form a Joint Coordination Center (JCC) in Istanbul, responsible for implementing the pact.
They authorize and inspect ships. No new ships had been authorized since May 4, which Ukraine blamed on Russia.
The JCC authorized three new vessels on Thursday to travel to the Ukrainian ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk, said UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq. A third port – Pivdennyi (Yuzhny) – is also covered by the Black Sea agreement.
Source: Notícias Agrícolas
