The EU calls on russia to extend the Istanbul Agreements

The European Union made a statement on the need to extend the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.

“We call on russia to extend the ‘grain agreement’ after its current term, which expires on November 19, and call on russia to implement the UN Black Sea Grain Initiative in good faith. The EU and its member states will continue to respond to the global food security crisis and support the timely and stable supply of Ukrainian agricultural products to world markets,” said the EU statement released at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting in Vienna.

The European Union emphasized that russia deliberately exacerbated the global food security crisis by destroying or looting Ukrainian grain stocks, disrupting production, imposing quota restrictions on its own exports of food and fertilizers, and imposing a blockade on Ukrainian seaports.

“In this context, the Black Sea Grain Initiative is key to providing food to the most vulnerable population groups in the world,” the EU summarized.