Top UN officials will meet a senior Russian delegation in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday to discuss extending a Ukraine Black Sea grain export deal and efforts to smooth shipments of Russian food and fertilizers to global markets, the UN said.
The deal allowing the export of food and fertilizers from several of Ukraine's Black Sea ports - brokered by the UN and Turkey on July 22 - could expire on November 19 if Russia or Ukraine objects to its extension.
A key part of the July package deal is also facilitating exports of Russian grain and fertilizer exports. The UN has said that Russian grain exports have increased, but that work needed to be done to alleviate a chilling effect of Western sanctions on Russian fertilizer exports.
UN aid chief Martin Griffiths, who heads talks on Ukrainian exports, and senior UN trade official Rebeca Grynspan, who leads discussions on Russian food and fertilizer exports, will meet with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin on Friday, a UN spokesperson said.
"It is hoped that the discussions will advance progress made in facilitating the unimpeded export of food and fertilizers originating from the Russian Federation to the global markets," the UN spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Russia suspended participation in the pact allowing Black Sea exports for several days last week after accusing Ukraine of using it as cover to target Russian ships in Crimea. Ukraine has neither confirmed nor denied it was behind the attack.
More than 10 million tons of grain and other food has been exported from Ukraine under the deal, according to the UN. It has warned that the war is worsening a global food crisis and pushing tens of millions more people into hunger.
The deal allowing the export of food and fertilizers from several of Ukraine's Black Sea ports - brokered by the UN and Turkey on July 22 - could expire on November 19 if Russia or Ukraine objects to its extension.
A key part of the July package deal is also facilitating exports of Russian grain and fertilizer exports. The UN has said that Russian grain exports have increased, but that work needed to be done to alleviate a chilling effect of Western sanctions on Russian fertilizer exports.
UN aid chief Martin Griffiths, who heads talks on Ukrainian exports, and senior UN trade official Rebeca Grynspan, who leads discussions on Russian food and fertilizer exports, will meet with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin on Friday, a UN spokesperson said.
"It is hoped that the discussions will advance progress made in facilitating the unimpeded export of food and fertilizers originating from the Russian Federation to the global markets," the UN spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Russia suspended participation in the pact allowing Black Sea exports for several days last week after accusing Ukraine of using it as cover to target Russian ships in Crimea. Ukraine has neither confirmed nor denied it was behind the attack.
More than 10 million tons of grain and other food has been exported from Ukraine under the deal, according to the UN. It has warned that the war is worsening a global food crisis and pushing tens of millions more people into hunger.
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