Ukraine welcomes grain deal extension, says it must work effectively

Ukraine welcomes the extension of the Black Sea grain export deal but Russia must not be allowed to sabotage the agreement and must stop using food "as a weapon and blackmail," a senior Ukrainian official said on Wednesday.

Ukraine welcomes the extension of the Black Sea grain export deal but Russia must not be allowed to sabotage the agreement and must stop using food "as a weapon and blackmail," a senior Ukrainian official said on Wednesday. "We welcome the continuation of the Initiative, but emphasise that it must work effectively," Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Facebook.

The United Nations and Turkey brokered the Black Sea deal for an initial 120 days in July last year to help tackle a global food crisis that has been aggravated by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, one of the world's leading grain exporters. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday the deal had been extended for two more months.