Russia insisted over the weekend that it had extended the Istanbul agreement on the export of grain from three occupied Ukrainian ports not by 120 days, but only by 60 days. Reports to the contrary were "wishful thinking or deliberate manipulation," according to the country's mission to the United Nations (UN).

Friedrich Schmidt

Political correspondent for Russia and the CIS in Moscow.

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Rainer Hermann

Editor in politics.

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The so-called grain deal was signed in July last year by the UN, Turkey, Russia and Ukraine. He ended the blockade of three Ukrainian ports by the Russian navy, as a result of which food prices had risen rapidly.

The agreement provides for a period of 120 days each. The deviation is due to Moscow's attempts to use the agreement as a lever to enforce relief for its own grain and fertilizer exports. This is not subject to sanctions, but encounters hurdles as companies refuse to cooperate with Russian market participants.

In the autumn, Moscow finally relented

Even before the first extension in the autumn, Russian President Vladimir Putin had taken a stand against the agreement, which had "ripped off the poorest countries" and Russia. Then Russia took an attack with air and water drones on the base of its own Black Sea fleet in annexed Crimea as an opportunity to suspend the agreement.

Despite Russian threats not to guarantee the safety of the freighters, the delegations of the UN, Turkey and Ukraine allowed more ships to pass through the Joint Coordination Centre. Moscow relented, but is now again demanding concessions not directly related to the agreement, such as the return of a state bank to SWIFT and agricultural equipment.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said an extension of the agreement, which expired on Sunday, had been achieved thanks to the mediation of the UN and Turkey. He said nothing about a new term. The agreement has so far enabled the transport of 25 million tons of grain on more than 800 ships to world markets and guarantees the world's food supply.