UN Secretary General writes to Putin to extend “grain initiative”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday regarding the continuation of the “grain initiative,” Reuters reports.

In the letter, Guterres proposes ways to further facilitate Russian exports of food and fertilizers and ensure the continued supply of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea, the secretary general’s spokesman, Stefan Dujarric, said on July 12.

“The aim is to remove the obstacles affecting financial transactions through Rosselkhozbank, which is a matter of serious concern to the Russian Federation, while ensuring the continued flow of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea,” Dujarric said.

The agreement, which allows for the safe export of grain and fertilizers, expires on Monday, July 17.

As a reminder, Russia blocked 29 ships carrying grain for five countries in Asia and Africa in Turkey’s territorial waters.

Later, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he wanted to extend the grain initiative for a longer period and would talk to Putin about it. The meeting is scheduled for August.

Tags: UN, Black Sea grain corridor