According to the Center for Transport Strategies, on July 17, Russian officials declared that the Grain Deal had been terminated.
The center reported that Moscow would come back to the implementation of the Black Sea Deal after demands in exchange for the extension of the Grain Deal are met. In particular, Russia wants its Rosselkhozbank to be reconnected to Swift.
Earlier, it was reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on July 14 that Putin had agreed to extend the Grain Deal after July 17.
The deal has enabled the safe exportation of around 30 million tons of grain since it was signed in July 2022. This helped lower global food prices, which surged to record highs after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Among the major destinations for Ukrainian grain are China and Spain.
The shipping of grain through the Black Sea was impeded by continual interruptions in the joint inspection of ships. The promptness of these inspections will be crucial to Ukraine's ability to sell the wheat harvested since July.
However, even after the deal was extended, Russia repeatedly violated it by deliberately delaying the inspection of ships sailing to Ukrainian seaports.
Ukraine can still resort to using Danube shipping as an alternative to the Grain Deal. During the first half of 2023, Danube ports located on the Ukrainian bank reloaded more than 14 tons of cargo. Ukrainian grain is also transported to Europe by rail.
Read also
Ukraine's Recovery: How to Change Critically Low Citizen Engagement Indicators?
The future has already arrived: blockchain technologies in the global economy and everyday life
