UN says it is doing everything possible to continue Ukraine grain deal

The United Nations is “doing everything possible” to make sure a deal allowing the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports continues, U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Friday, a day before the pact is due to expire.
He also said “meaningful progress” had been made on a separate pledge by the United Nations to help facilitate Russian food and fertilizer exports, “but impediments remain, notably with regard to payment systems.”
“It is vital for global food security that both of these agreements continue and should be fully implemented,” Griffiths said.
The pact was brokered with Russia and Ukraine by the United Nations and Turkey in July – and renewed in November – to combat a global food crisis that was fueled in part by Russia’s Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of neighboring Ukraine and Black Sea blockade.