UN chief welcomes agreement to extend Black Sea grain deal

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has welcomed an agreement by all parties to extend the Black Sea grain deal to facilitate Ukraine's agricultural exports from its southern Black Sea ports.

That's according to Reuters, Ukrinform reports.

"I welcome the agreement by all parties to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative to facilitate the safe navigation of export of grain, foodstuffs and fertilizers from Ukraine," he said in a statement on Thursday.

He added said the UN was also "fully committed to removing the remaining obstacles to exporting food and fertilizers from the Russian Federation" - a part of the deal Moscow sees as critical.

In Istanbul, on November 17, Ukraine, the United Nations and Turkey agreed to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative for a further 120 days.

Ukraine exported more than 11 million tonnes of agricultural products to 38 countries since the grain deal came into force on August 1 this year.