– The Turkish and Russian foreign ministers will discuss the grain agreement, says Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to Erdogan, he himself will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin, before the two will meet physically in August, reports Reuters. The statements from the Turkish president come after the grain agreement between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN expired today. The agreement has secured the export of grain and fertilizer from Ukrainian ports across the Black Sea. The Kremlin said today that the agreement is being put on hold, because it believes that the demands from Russia have not been met. This could have major consequences for food security worldwide. On Monday morning, Russia accused Ukraine of attacking the Crimean bridge with drones. Two people were killed in the attack. The fact that the agreement is not extended is not to be connected with the attack on the bridge last night, according to the Kremlin. Russia will resume the agreement once its demands are met, the Kremlin further states. They have notified Turkey, Ukraine and the UN that they do not agree to an extension of the agreement, according to a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry. The UN agreement, which Turkey helped negotiate, has allowed Ukraine to send over 32 million tonnes of grain and other agricultural products past Russian warships since August last year. Russian President Vladimir Putin will not extend the grain agreement at this time. The agreement expires today. Photo: test Could affect food security Russia has threatened to withdraw from the agreement because they claim that their own demands for improved exports of grain and fertilizer have not been met. Among other things, they want them to also have access to the Swift system, i.e. to send money across national borders. In addition, they believe that poor countries have not received enough grain. EU President Ursula Von der Leyen has previously asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to extend the grain agreement. The grain agreement is important for food security. When the full-scale war started, the prices of food rose sharply. Photo: AP Von der Leyen fears that it could affect the world’s food security if the agreement is not extended. – I strongly condemn Russia’s cynical move to end the grain agreement, despite the efforts of the UN and Turkey, writes Von der Leyen on Twitter today. Important for diplomacy The grain agreement has worked well so far. When the war started, the prices of food rose sharply. But the grain agreement had a big effect, and food prices fell by 20 per cent when it came into place in August last year. It is particularly important for many on the African continent, where many live on the brink of poverty. It is uncertain whether the Russian president will agree to renew the agreement. Here from a field in Ukraine. Photo: AP This is therefore an important point for diplomacy in Africa, and for the relationship between Putin and several African countries. UN Secretary-General António Guterres is said to have sent a letter to Putin with a proposal to extend the grain agreement that allows Ukraine to safely transport grain and fertilizer through the Black Sea – without risk of Russian attack. Putin claims not to have received such a letter.
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The grain agreement expires today – the Kremlin says the agreement will not be extended – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
