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Senior UN officials met last Monday in Geneva with a high-level delegation from the Russian Federation to discuss the expiry of the two agreements signed on 22 July 2022: the Black Sea Grain Initiative between the Russian Federation, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Nations; and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian Federation and the UN, to facilitate unimpeded exports of food and fertilizer, which was renewed for a period of 120 days last November and expires tomorrow, 18 March.
Russia announced that it would accept an extension of only 60 days, half the number of days agreed when it first expired in November.
The FAO Food Price Index has decreased for 10 consecutive months since reaching record high levels in March 2022, clearly demonstrating the positive impact of both agreements on global food prices.
The UN Secretary-General has confirmed that the UN will do everything possible to preserve the integrity of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and ensure its continuity, which have allowed the exports of 24 million metric tons of grains through the Black Sea, with 55% of food exports going to developing countries.
17 March 2023/ 333 based on UN information.
