Russia will extend Ukraine grain deal for 60 days -- not 120

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By EDITH M. LEDERER today

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — On the eve of the expiration of a deal enabling Ukraine to export grain, the United Nations’ humanitarian chief on Friday called its extension crucial to ensuring global food supplies and keeping prices from spiraling as they did after Russia’s invasion of its smaller neighbor.

Russia’s U.N. ambassador reiterated that Moscow is ready to extend the deal — but only for 60 days, just half the 120 days in the agreement.

Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia’s briefing to the U.N. Security Council, reiterating what a Russian delegation told senior U.N. officials at a meeting in Geneva on Monday, reinforced the Kremlin’s insistence on reducing the duration of the deal to hold out for changes on how the package is working.

The U.N. and Turkey brokered the deal between the warring countries last July that allows Ukraine — one of the world’s key breadbaskets — to ship food and fertilizer from three of its Black Sea ports. A separate memorandum of understanding between the United Nations and Russia is aimed at overcoming obstacles to Moscow’s shipments of fertilizer to global markets.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-grain-fertilizer-extension-f5550e9f2dfa2a0c601d73b7d11a42db

[Shoonra]

1. Don't count on it ...

Despite the warm friendly smile on the face of the Russian delegate, there has been no extension to the expiring grain deal. It is very probable that Russia will try to block any further export/import for Ukraine in an effort to starve Ukrain into surrender and also punish those countries which are Ukraine's trade partners. At that point, there may be combat involving ships and planes trying to run the Russian blockade.