MOSCOW, Apr 21 Ukraine should now develop alternative grain delivery options in case the «grain corridor» through the Black Sea is blocked, Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkey Vasily Bodnar said on Friday.
«We need to think about some alternative options if the Russians try to block the grain agreement on May 18… Perhaps we need to form plans B and C already now, where the ships will go and whether they will go if the Russians create obstacles or block the initiative itself,» Bondar was quoted as saying by Ukrinform.
According to the diplomat, Kyiv needs to take into account the internal situation in Turkey, in particular, the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, as well as the prospects for the development of the situation with the grain deal. He suggested that all these options are already calculated and written into the action plan in case of an unforeseen situation.
The grain deal, which was signed on July 22, 2022 by representatives of Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN, involves the export of Ukrainian grain, food and fertilizer across the Black Sea from three ports, including Odessa. The package agreement also provides for the unblocking of Russian exports of food and fertilizers, Moscow noted that this was precisely what was not done, while there were assurances from the UN that these restrictions would be lifted.
Earlier, Russia extended the Black Sea grain initiative for 60 days — until May 18. Ukraine insists that the deal has been extended for 120 days.
Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya, in his letter to Deputy Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths, indicated that «consideration by the Russian side of a further extension of the Black Sea grain initiative after the specified date will be possible only depending on the achievement of tangible progress in the implementation of the memorandum of understanding between the Russian Federation and the UN Secretariat for Assistance in the Promotion of Russian Food and Fertilizers to Global Markets».