Ukrainian Ambassador to Ankara Vasil Bodnar on Tuesday stressed the «viability» that the grain export agreement reached between Russia and Ukraine has proved to have, and advocated an extension of the agreement before it expires.
«Now there is a question about the continuation of this initiative, as there are less than 60 days left for its completion, and that is now one of the most urgent issues (…) This initiative has confirmed its viability,» Bodnar said.
Moscow and Kiev reached in late July, with the mediation of Tehran and the United Nations, an agreement for the export of wheat from Ukrainian ports. Since then, more than 14 million tons have already left the country.
However, Bodnar lamented that this is not the amount that the Ukrainian authorities had hoped for, and complained that the Russian side has done nothing but put impediments in the way at the Joint Control Center established in Istanbul.
In this context, the Ukrainian diplomat stressed that the extension of the grain agreement is one of the main priorities between Ukraine and Turkey, according to Ukrinform news agency.
The agreement on grain exports from Ukraine across the Black Sea was extended in mid-November for 120 days, more than half of which has already been completed.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
