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UN chief appeals for extension of Ukraine-Russia grain deal

29.10.2022 09:15
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed for the extension a United Nations-backed deal for Ukrainian grain exports that is set to expire on November 19.
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, speaks at the General Debate of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New Yortk, the US, on September 20, 2022.
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, speaks at the General Debate of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New Yortk, the US, on September 20, 2022.Photo: Palácio do Planalto from Brasilia, Brasil, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

"We underline the urgency of doing so to contribute to food security across the world, and to cushion the suffering that this global cost-of-living crisis is inflicting on billions of people," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement.

"The initial duration of the agreement to facilitate grains and fertilizer exports from Ukraine is 120 days and can be extended automatically on 19 November if no party objects," the statement reads.

"The resumption of exports has significantly contributed to lower prices of wheat and other commodities," according to the UN statement, which "has indirectly prevented some 100 million people from falling into extreme poverty."

The grain-and-fertiliser export deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey on July 22. It paved the way for the resumption of Ukraine’s exports for the first time since the Russian invasion blocked shipping through the Black Sea in February. 

Under the agreement, Moscow committed not to attack ships exporting grain from the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi.

However, just a day after the deal was signed, Russia hit Odesa with missiles and struck port infrastructure, according to news reports at the time. 

(ał)

Source: PAP