The United Nations has suggested that Kyiv, Moscow, and Ankara begin preparations for the transportation of Russian ammonia through Ukraine while the organization strives to salvage an agreement allowing safe grain exports via the Black Sea. A source told Reuters on Wednesday that "the UN wants to hold talks to expand the Black Sea agreement, which was signed last July, to include more Ukrainian ports and additional shipments, coinciding with the start of that preparatory work."
The source, who requested anonymity, stated that "Ukraine and Turkey have agreed to the new proposal aimed at improving operations in the Black Sea grain export corridor, but Russia has not yet responded." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of obstructing all activities in Pivdennyi while being unable to move 1.5 million tons of agricultural products. He stated that other countries should take this into account.
Zelensky remarked, "All maritime countries can now see what could threaten their ports and coasts if Russia finds a way to obstruct navigation in the Black Sea." He added, "In other words, the blockade of one port in Ukraine poses extremely serious risks to various countries, especially those with relations that Russia is trying to exploit for speculation."
Ukrainian authorities indicated that workers would need approximately 30 days to prepare the pipeline in order to resume ammonia pumping. A senior Ukrainian government official stated yesterday that Kyiv seeks guarantees from Moscow and the UN that the grain agreement will function normally if Ukraine permits Russia to export ammonia through the pipeline.
