Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the extension of the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grains via the Black Sea, the Ankara leader did not give details on the duration of the extension. According to Kiev, the extension will be 120 days, as requested by Ukraine. This would be a clear cut for Russia, which has so far been against a deal that will last more than two months. News of the deal comes at the same time as Vladimir Putin’s surprise visit to Crimea, eliminating the risk of a new rise in food prices internationally.
“After the talks between the two sides, we have ensured the extension of the agreement, which will expire on March 19,” Erdogan said. Oleksandr Kubrakov, Minister of Infrastructure from Kiev, announced the extension of the agreement by 120 days. Kubrakov thanked Erdogan, Antonio Guterres and all our “partners” on Twitter and reminded that “25 million tons of Ukrainian wheat has been delivered to world markets thanks to our joint efforts”. The grain deal was agreed in July 2022, after the blockade of Russian military ships in the Black Sea risked milling billions of tons of grain accumulated in Ukraine and destined for export.
One of the strengths of Moscow’s dominance in the Black Sea is that it controls the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, which was occupied by Russian troops in 2014 and formally annexed nine years ago on March 16. On the occasion of this anniversary, Putin arrived in Sevastopol, the main city of the region. It’s a surprise visit where she visits a new children’s center and an art school. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly reiterated Kiev’s goal of reconquering Crimea.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia was open to “serious offers” from the West and Ukraine to find a political-diplomatic solution to the conflict, but at the same time insisted on “international recognition of new regional realities”. Reference to Crimea. He added that for a stable peace, the shipment of weapons and mercenaries to Ukraine should be stopped, military operations should be stopped, and Ukraine should be returned to the status of a neutral country outside the blocks.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
