UN seeks extension of key Ukraine-Russia wartime grain deal

Moscow has been frustrated that a parallel deal to allow exports of Russian ammonia, which is used across the globe for fertiliser, has not taken effect.

Grain is offloaded from the Eaubonne bulk carrier ship after it docked in the port of Mombasa, Kenya, last November (AP)

Senior UN officials have hosted Russian envoys in Geneva in a bid to extend an export agreement amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and to prevent a potential new spike in world food prices.

Despite being at war, Ukraine and Russia struck a deal last July that allows Ukraine – one of the world’s key breadbaskets – to ship grain from its Black Sea ports and permits Russia to export food and fertilisers.