The Ukrainian government has acknowledged that the grain agreement may not be extended after July 17 and is actively evaluating alternate export routes. A report from the Ukrainian newspaper Strana, referencing an anonymous Cabinet of Ministers source, outlines the options being considered should the pact end.
The source indicates that there remains a chance the agreement could be renewed, yet preparation is already underway to move forward if Russia withdraws from the pact. The report notes that the Russian side had earlier asked Turkey to refrain from closing the corridor ahead of Turkish elections, but with those elections now completed, there is no current request of that nature.
In the scenario that the agreement is not extended, Ukraine plans to direct grain shipments through Danube ports as well as Poland’s Gdansk and Gdynia and Romania’s Constanta. The article highlights that the Danube route offers limited capacity to substantially increase transit volumes, whereas the routes via the other three points are more expensive for agricultural exporters, though not restricted by the same limits.
On the matter of government statements, Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for the Russian president, indicated that a final decision on Russia’s participation suspension in the grain agreement was not yet made public. The article also points to Russia’s growing share in global grain trade in the face of sanctions pressure, suggesting a dynamic shift in the market landscape.