Ukraine's envoy in UN proposes indefinite extension to grain deal

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) — Ukraine on Saturday voiced support for extending the Black Sea grain corridor initiative for at least 120 more days.

Speaking at a meeting of the UN Security Council in New York, Kyiv's envoy to the council Sergiy Kyslytsya also underlined that ideally, the landmark deal would be extended indefinitely to continue grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which had been halted after the war with Russia began in February 2022.

"The Black Sea Grain Initiative should be extended after it expires on March 18 for at least 120 days, as provided, or for an unlimited period," said Kyslytsya, suggesting that it should also be expanded to cover Ukrainian ports in the Mykolaiv region as well.

Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine had signed a deal in Istanbul last July to resume grain exports from Yuzhny, Chornomorsk, and Odesa.

The deal, extended for 120 days in November, expires on Saturday.