A senior Ukrainian official said on Friday that talks would begin in a week on expanding a UN-backed initiative that has enabled Ukraine to export grain from ports blocked by Russia.
Last July the Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, allowed grain exports from three Ukrainian ports.
The agreement was extended for another 120 days in November and is up for renewal again in March, but Russia has indicated it is unhappy with some aspects of the deal and has called for the removal of sanctions affecting its agricultural exports. asked for.
“The talks on expanding the grain corridor will start in a week and then we will understand the positions of all parties,” said Ukraine’s deputy infrastructure minister Yuri Vaskov in Kiev, organized by the Proagro agricultural consultancy.
“I think common sense will prevail and the corridor will be expanded,” he said.
Without giving details, he said pressure is being put on Russia to not only expand the corridor but also improve the way it works.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative was signed last July
Help in transportation of grain from blocked ports
The initiative is up for renewal in March