Russia and the United States are holding discussions in Riyadh for a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. Aside from truce talks, both parties are set to discuss restarting a key agreement aimed at protecting merchant shipping in the Black Sea, the Kremlin announced on Monday (March 24). Moscow said that it believes important parts of the original deal were never fulfilled.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the "Black Sea Initiative," widely known as the grain deal, was among the topics being discussed at a meeting in Saudi Arabia between Russian and American officials on Monday.
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<h2>What was the Black Sea Grain deal?</h2>
The Black Sea grain initiative was established in July 2022 through negotiations involving Turkey, the United Nations, and Russia. Its purpose was to ensure that Ukraine, one of the world&rsquo;s largest grain producers, could continue exporting its grain from southern ports through the Bosphorus. With overland routes through Poland and waterways via Romania unable to handle the necessary volumes, the agreement became essential for the global food supply.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-ukraine-hold-talks-in-riyadh-as-us-envoy-expresses-optimism-on-ending-war-before-russia-meeting-8883474">US-Ukraine hold talks in Riyadh as US envoy expresses optimism on ending war before Russia meeting</a>
<h2>What did the deal include?</h2>
The initiative, one of the few diplomatic breakthroughs since the conflict began, allowed the export of commercial food products and fertiliser, including ammonia, from three key Ukrainian ports: Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi (formerly Yuzhny).
Ukrainian vessels escorted cargo ships through safe corridors, avoiding mined areas, before heading towards Istanbul. There, the ships were inspected by joint teams made up of Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian, and UN officials.
A second agreement was signed alongside it, intended to ease restrictions on Russia's food and fertiliser exports. Both parts of the deal were reviewed every few months.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-shuttlecock-diplomacy-and-why-is-the-us-using-it-to-broker-ceasefire-between-russia-and-ukraine-8883063">What is 'shuttlecock diplomacy', and why is the US using it to broker ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine?</a>
<h2>Did the agreement work?</h2>
Despite tensions and lack of trust, around 33 million tonnes of grain were exported from Ukrainian ports. The UK reported that 61% of this went to low- and middle-income countries, with 65% of wheat exports reaching those nations. The World Food Programme alone bought around 750,000 tonnes, which were sent to countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Afghanistan. Thanks to the increased supply, global grain prices dropped significantly, from a high of $1,360 per tonne to about $800.
Russia, however, claimed that less than 4% of the grain reached the poorest nations. However many experts argued that even exports to wealthier countries helped reduce prices worldwide.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/preposterous-trump-envoy-witkoff-dismisses-starmers-ukraine-plan-as-zelensky-urges-new-pressure-on-russia-8882862">&lsquo;Preposterous&rsquo;: Trump envoy Witkoff dismisses Starmer&rsquo;s Ukraine plan as Zelensky urges 'new pressure' on Russia</a>
<h2>Why did the deal break down?</h2>
Over time, Russia began slowing inspections. In October 2022, ten ship inspections were carried out each day, with 4.2 million metric tonnes exported that month. By November, it fell to seven daily, and by May, only two inspections were happening each day. That month, just 1.3 million metric tonnes left Ukraine. Compared to March 2023, April saw a 29% drop in food exports under the initiative, with a further 66% drop in May. Russia eventually pulled out of the deal.
The main reason behind this, according to Moscow, was that the second part of the deal, aimed at easing Russian agricultural exports, was not upheld.
Russia argued that sanctions on its exports were not lifted clearly enough, making insurers unwilling to cover ships carrying Russian food. It also demanded that sanctions on its key agricultural bank be removed.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: The Black Sea grain initiative was established in July 2022. Its purpose was to ensure that Ukraine could continue exporting its grain.

Russia and the United States are holding discussions in Riyadh for a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. Aside from truce talks, both parties are set to discuss restarting a key agreement aimed at protecting merchant shipping in the Black Sea, the Kremlin announced on Monday (March 24). Moscow said that it believes important parts of the original deal were never fulfilled. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the "Black Sea Initiative," widely known as the grain deal, was among the topics being discussed at a meeting in Saudi Arabia between Russian and American officials on Monday. Also read: US and Russia talks on Ukraine peace deal underway in Saudi Arabia: Trump-brokered ceasefire in sight? What was the Black Sea Grain deal? The Black Sea grain initiative was established in July 2022 through negotiations involving Turkey, the United Nations, and Russia. Its purpose was to ensure that Ukraine, one of the world’s largest grain producers, could continue exporting its grain from southern ports through the Bosphorus. With overland routes through Poland and waterways via Romania unable to handle the necessary volumes, the agreement became essential for the global food supply. Also read: US-Ukraine hold talks in Riyadh as US envoy expresses optimism on ending war before Russia meeting What did the deal include? The initiative, one of the few diplomatic breakthroughs since the conflict began, allowed the export of commercial food products and fertiliser, including ammonia, from three key Ukrainian ports: Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi (formerly Yuzhny). Ukrainian vessels escorted cargo ships through safe corridors, avoiding mined areas, before heading towards Istanbul. There, the ships were inspected by joint teams made up of Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian, and UN officials. A second agreement was signed alongside it, intended to ease restrictions on Russia's food and fertiliser exports. Both parts of the deal were reviewed every few months. Also read: What is 'shuttlecock diplomacy', and why is the US using it to broker ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine? Did the agreement work? Despite tensions and lack of trust, around 33 million tonnes of grain were exported from Ukrainian ports. The UK reported that 61% of this went to low- and middle-income countries, with 65% of wheat exports reaching those nations. The World Food Programme alone bought around 750,000 tonnes, which were sent to countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Afghanistan. Thanks to the increased supply, global grain prices dropped significantly, from a high of $1,360 per tonne to about $800. Russia, however, claimed that less than 4% of the grain reached the poorest nations. However many experts argued that even exports to wealthier countries helped reduce prices worldwide. Also read: ‘Preposterous’: Trump envoy Witkoff dismisses Starmer’s Ukraine plan as Zelensky urges 'new pressure' on Russia Why did the deal break down? Over time, Russia began slowing inspections. In October 2022, ten ship inspections were carried out each day, with 4.2 million metric tonnes exported that month. By November, it fell to seven daily, and by May, only two inspections were happening each day. That month, just 1.3 million metric tonnes left Ukraine. Compared to March 2023, April saw a 29% drop in food exports under the initiative, with a further 66% drop in May. Russia eventually pulled out of the deal. The main reason behind this, according to Moscow, was that the second part of the deal, aimed at easing Russian agricultural exports, was not upheld. Russia argued that sanctions on its exports were not lifted clearly enough, making insurers unwilling to cover ships carrying Russian food. It also demanded that sanctions on its key agricultural bank be removed. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia wants to restore 'Black Sea Grain deal' with Ukraine: What is it and why did Moscow back out the first time?

Russia on Tuesday extended the Black Sea grain deal, which facilitates safe passage to the Ukrainian agricultural exports, for another 60 days, the state-owned TASS news agency reported while citing the Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko.

Millions of tonnes of the food grains and other food products have been exported from war-torn Ukraine to parts of the world after the two warring sides signed a United Nations-backed Black Sea Grain Initiative in Turkey last year on July 22.&nbsp;

Earlier on Monday, Russia suggested renewing the deal as it coincided with the UN's&nbsp;pledge to do everything possible to ensure the agreement's integrity remained intact.

"Indeed, the deal has been extended.&nbsp;It has been agreed that it has been extended for 60 days," Grushko was quoted as saying by&nbsp;TASS.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/data-lab-whos-war-is-this-anyway-measuring-the-cost-of-the-russia-ukraine-war-one-year-on-565166">Data Lab: Whose war is this? Measuring the cost of the Russia-Ukraine war, one year on</a>

RIA news agency also cited Grushko as saying the deal had been extended.

Russia has said&nbsp;that, while its&nbsp;agricultural exports have not been explicitly targeted by the West, other economic sanctions have hit its ability&nbsp;to export its own grains and fertilisers.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;12 ships with over 350,000 tons of grain leave Ukrainian ports despite Russian pull-out

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&nbsp;

Ukraine's infrastructure minister in an apparent admission to the Russian extension of the grain deal,&nbsp;said Monday that Russia's decision to extend the grain deal for 60 days went against the agreement, but did not reject Moscow's proposal.

"(The grain) agreement involves at least 120 days of extension, therefore Russia's position to extend the deal only for 60 days contradicts the document signed by Turkey and the UN," Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Twitter, adding: "We are&nbsp;waiting for the official position of the UN and Turkey as the guarantors of the initiative."

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Russia on Tuesday extended the Black Sea grain deal, which facilitates safe passage to the Ukrainian agricultural exports, for another 60 days, the state-owned TASS news agency reported while citing the Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko.

Russia on Tuesday extended the Black Sea grain deal, which facilitates safe passage to the Ukrainian agricultural exports, for another 60 days, the state-owned TASS news agency reported while citing the Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko. Millions of tonnes of the food grains and other food products have been exported from war-torn Ukraine to parts of the world after the two warring sides signed a United Nations-backed Black Sea Grain Initiative in Turkey last year on July 22. Earlier on Monday, Russia suggested renewing the deal as it coincided with the UN's pledge to do everything possible to ensure the agreement's integrity remained intact. "Indeed, the deal has been extended. It has been agreed that it has been extended for 60 days," Grushko was quoted as saying by TASS. ALSO READ | Data Lab: Whose war is this? Measuring the cost of the Russia-Ukraine war, one year on RIA news agency also cited Grushko as saying the deal had been extended. Russia has said that, while its agricultural exports have not been explicitly targeted by the West, other economic sanctions have hit its ability to export its own grains and fertilisers. ALSO WATCH | 12 ships with over 350,000 tons of grain leave Ukrainian ports despite Russian pull-out × Ukraine's infrastructure minister in an apparent admission to the Russian extension of the grain deal, said Monday that Russia's decision to extend the grain deal for 60 days went against the agreement, but did not reject Moscow's proposal. "(The grain) agreement involves at least 120 days of extension, therefore Russia's position to extend the deal only for 60 days contradicts the document signed by Turkey and the UN," Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Twitter, adding: "We are waiting for the official position of the UN and Turkey as the guarantors of the initiative." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia extends Black Sea grain deal for another 60 days: State media

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Russia wants to restore 'Black Sea Grain deal' with Ukraine: What is it and why did Moscow back out the first time?

Russia extends Black Sea grain deal for another 60 days: State media