“The main objective of the agreement, the delivery of grains to countries in need, especially on the African continent, has not been achieved,” the Russian presidency added in a statement about an exchange between Putin and Ramaphosa.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who is a mediator between Ukraine and Russia, said on Friday that Putin “agrees” to prolong the agreement for the export of Ukrainian grains.
But the Kremlin denied making a statement on the subject. Putin regretted on Thursday that none of Russia’s requests have been taken into account in the negotiations to extend the agreement.
The pact signed in July 2022 in Istanbul has already been extended twice. The current agreement expires at midnight on Monday Istanbul time (2100 GMT).
This negotiation allowed 33 million tons of grain to be exported this year from Ukrainian ports, despite the conflict.