Yermak hopes Black Sea Grain Initiative will be extended

Yermak said this at a meeting with journalists from Kyiv, when asked to comment on Ukraine's initiative to extend the "grain deal" for one year, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Our position is clear. We fulfill everything that depends on us. It will be very difficult for them [the Russians] to explain to the world why they stopped this," he said.

At the same time, Yermak mentioned the Grain from Ukraine humanitarian program, which was launched on November 15, 2022, in partnership with the World Food Program.

As part of this program, "some [grain] ships departed for countries that do not even support us in the UN General Assembly," Yermak said.

The Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian ports came into force in July 2022 through the mediation of Turkey and the UN. Last year, in November, Ukraine proposed that Turkey and the UN expand and extend the "grain deal" for one year.