UN: Black Sea Grain Initiative Deal Not Yet Fully Resumed
The United Nations said that a deal allowing the safe wartime export of grain and fertilizer from Ukrainian Black Sea ports has not yet resumed full operations.
The deal, called the Black Sea Grain Initiative, was brokered by the UN and Turkey last July with Russia and Ukraine to try to ease a global food crisis, but operations have been halted due to obstructions and limitations.
Ukraine accused Russia of effectively cutting Pivdenny port out of the deal, and Russia has made demands for the restart of pipeline transportation and reconnecting its agricultural bank to the SWIFT network.
The Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul is responsible for authorizing and conducting inspections of vessels, but the number of daily inspections has decreased and there are currently 54 vessels waiting to move to Ukrainian ports.
Russia has threatened to not extend the deal beyond July 17 if its demands are not met.
Ukraine accused Russia of effectively cutting Pivdenny port out of the deal, and Russia has made demands for the restart of pipeline transportation and reconnecting its agricultural bank to the SWIFT network.
The Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul is responsible for authorizing and conducting inspections of vessels, but the number of daily inspections has decreased and there are currently 54 vessels waiting to move to Ukrainian ports.
Russia has threatened to not extend the deal beyond July 17 if its demands are not met.
