Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky believes that the grain deal can become permanent. I think it's worth extending our grain exports initiative permanently, regardless of when the war ends. Therefore, I propose that the grain export initiative be extended to our other ports, in particular the ports of Nikolayev and Olvia in the Nikolayev region,” he said in a video address to participants at the G20 summit on Tuesday.
Calling for support for his initiative, the Ukrainian President stated: “Ukraine can export 45 million tons of food this year at least a year and its expansion to the ports of the Nikolayev region, which previously accounted for about 35% of Ukraine's food exports.
Agreements on the export of food from Ukraine were concluded on July 22 for a period of 120 days. They are valid until November 19 and are automatically extended by another 120 days if none of the parties (Russia, UN, Ukraine, Turkey) opposes them. One of the agreements regulates the ordering of grain deliveries from the Kyiv-controlled ports of Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny. the UN is tasked with inspecting bulk carriers to prevent arms smuggling and provocation.
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin earlier told reporters that the issue of extending the grain agreement has not yet been resolved. As the ministry later reported, at a meeting with the head of the EU representative office in Moscow, Vershinin pointed out the need to fully implement the terms of the grain agreement.