Talks for a renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI), which allows grain and fertiliser to move from Russia and Ukraine to Africa and other parts of the world, are under way.
The latest agreement expires on 18 May.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there have been two windows for grain to move via the Black Sea. The first was a 120-day cycle in July 2022.
The second was a 60-day cycle in March 2023; it is this that is coming to an end.
Russia has complained that only 3% of the grain went to Africa. If this remained the case, Russia said it would send grain to Africa free of charge.
Through the BSGI, the World Food Programme has transported approximately 600 000 tonnes of grain to Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Yemen.
If no deal is agreed to by 18 May, Russia’s deputy Foreign Minister, Sergey Vershinin, said that Moscow would pull out because its conditions would not have been considered.
US ambassador Jim O’Brien said: ‘It’s hard to see Russia’s incentive to terminate it, other than a desire to make more money from its grain exports.
‘At the same time, if Russia wishes to suspend its own termination – this is exactly what it did in the fall, and the initiative was able to provide a great deal of food to people during the time that the Russians suspended their own participation.
‘That would be the Russians’ own decision. But we would welcome seeing the BSGI get back up and functioning as it should, so it can help global grain markets.’
O’Brien said the decision was up to Russia.
Turkish, Russian, Ukrainian and UN delegations in Istanbul are engaged in talks for the corridor to be opened for another two months.