A deal has been extended that allows Ukraine to export millions of tonnes of grain through the Black Sea despite the ongoing conflict with Russia.
However, it is unclear how long it will last, with Ukraine requesting 120 days and Russia requesting 60 days.
Russia has warned that it will not allow the agreement to continue unless sanctions against Moscow are eased.
Following fears of a global food crisis, the UN and Turkey assisted in negotiating the export agreement last July.
Ukraine is one of the world’s leading grain producers, but its access to Black Sea ports has been obstructed by Russian warships since the invasion in February last year.
Countries suffering from food insecurity, such as Yemen, heavily rely on these supplies.
What exactly is the Ukraine grain deal, and how well is it working?
On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced an agreement to extend the agreement, just hours before it was set to expire.
“This agreement is critical to the global food supply. I thank Russia and Ukraine, who worked tirelessly to secure a new extension, as well as the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon “He stated.
However, neither Mr Erdogan nor the UN have specified how long it will last. Ukraine requested a 120-day extension, but Russia stated that it was only willing to renew the agreement for another 60 days.
Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said on Friday that the EU, UK, and US had two months to remove any sanctions targeting Russia’s agricultural sector if the deal was to continue.
Moscow wants Russian producers to be able to export more food and fertilizer to the rest of the world, but claims that Western sanctions prevent them from doing so.
While food and fertilizer exports have not been targeted, Russia claims that payment, insurer, and shipper restrictions make exports difficult.
Russia briefly left the agreement in November of last year, accusing Ukraine of attacking its fleet in Crimea, but rejoined a few days later.
According to the United Nations, the agreement has already enabled nearly 25 million tonnes of food from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports to reach global markets.