Kyiv appears to have been preparing for some time for Russia to withdraw from the grain deal, which made it possible for Ukraine to export grain via its seaports. According to Serhiy Ivaschenko, the CEO of the Ukrainian Grain Association, it would not benefit Ukraine to continue the grain deal under the same conditions as before. Oleh Nivyevskyi of the Kyiv School of Economics says that, initially, the grain deal provided Ukraine with the opportunity to export surplus grain from the previous harvest. Alternative routes, including the DanubeAccording to the Ukrainian Ministry of Agrarian Policy, the grain deal enabled Ukraine to export 32 million tons of grain and oil by sea over the past year. In addition, approximately 10 million tons of grain were transported by rail, and another 3 million tons by road.

Source: Dhaka Tribune July 22, 2023 16:47 UTC