The US State Department emphasizes the need to extend the "grain deal"

The U.S. Department of State has emphasized the relevance and urgency of extending the Black Sea Grain Agreement amid Russian attempts to obstruct this initiative and use food supplies as a weapon.

This is stated in a statement by the State Department, published on Wednesday on the official Twitter page.

"There is an urgent need to extend and expand the Black Sea Grain Initiative to provide ships with access to ports in Ukraine and to allow more food to reach world markets," the US Foreign Ministry said.

At the same time, the State Department quoted U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken as saying that "the world should not have to remind Moscow every few weeks to stop using hunger as a weapon in the war against Ukraine."

On Wednesday, negotiations on the extension of the Black Sea Grain Agreement began in Istanbul at the level of deputy defense ministers of Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, and UN officials.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 11/05/2023