The operation of the grain corridor was extended for 60 days and Turkish ships were allowed to enter the ports of Mykolaiv

Ukraine, Turkey, the United Nations and the Russian Federation have agreed to extend the grain agreement for another 60 days, i.e. until July 18, Turkish President Erdogan announced yesterday in his official Telegram channel.

"Thanks to the efforts of Turkey and Ukraine, as well as the support of our Russian friends, a decision was made to extend the agreement on the Black Sea grain corridor for another 2 months," he said.

Erdogan also noted that "his country will make maximum efforts to fulfill all provisions and requirements of the grain agreement. And Russian friends assured that they will not prevent the departure of Turkish ships from the ports of Olbia and Mykolaiv."

Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction, Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine, thanked the partners for their steadfast and purposeful position regarding the further work of the grain agreement and the conditions for its extension. He noted that the Grain initiative was and remains valid, as it was extended in May for 120 days, i.e. until July 18.

Kubrakov also reminded that since mid-April, Russia began to sabotage the work of the grain corridor, and in May it actually blocked it, unjustifiably refusing to register and inspect ships heading to Ukrainian ports for loading. Currently, almost 70 ships are waiting for inspection in the territorial waters of Turkey, and 90% of them are those that are supposed to transport Ukrainian agricultural products.

"We welcome the extension of the agreement, but insist on its effective operation. For this, it is necessary to eliminate the problems that the Russian Federation creates for several months in a row, sabotaging the inspection and registration of incoming ships. We hope that our partners will make maximum efforts to ensure the full operation of the grain initiative, and the Russian Federation will finally stop using food as a weapon and a pretext for blackmail," Kubrakov added.