The chief of the U.N. food agency cautioned on Saturday that it would be disastrous not to renew a U.N.-backed program that has allowed Ukraine to export grain from ports that Russia has blocked. This is because millions of people in Africa are on the verge of starvation.
A top Ukrainian official announced on Friday that talks to extend the trade pact will begin in a week.
In an interview with “Reuters” on the margins of the Munich Security Conference, World Food Programme (WFP) Director David Beasley stated, “It’s vital.”
We really cannot afford for the Black Sea Grain effort to fail, Beasley continued, given the numerous disasters, we are already seeing around the world due to climate change, droughts, and flash floods.
The UN and Turkey-mediated grain agreement from last July permitted grain exports from three Ukrainian ports.
Furthermore, the accord was developed for another 120 days in November, and it is up for renewal once more in March. Nevertheless, Russia has indicated that it is dissatisfied with several components of the arrangement and has requested the lifting of sanctions that hinder its agricultural exports.