<p>The UN warned Wednesday that agreements to enable grain shipments from war-torn Ukraine, desperately needed to ward off hunger in poor countries, were in "difficult territory."</p>.<p>The hard-won Black Sea Grain Initiative was brokered by the UN and Turkey last July. It was renewed a first time in November and is up for renewal again on March 18.</p>.<p>"I think we're in slightly more difficult territory at the moment," UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths told reporters.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/a-year-into-war-ukraines-zelenskyy-defies-putin-against-the-odds-1191420.html" target="_blank">A year into war, Ukraine's Zelenskyy defies Putin against the odds</a></strong><br /><br />He insisted though that the arguments for continuing were "conclusive and persuasive," stressing that "the Global South ... needs that operation to continue."</p>.<p>Ukraine is one of the world's top cereal producers.</p>.<p>After Russia launched its invasion nearly a year ago, 20 million tonnes of grain were blocked in its ports until a safe passage deal was agreed.</p>.<p>Nearly 20 million tonnes of cereal have been exported since then, said Griffiths, insisting: "We don't need it stopped in the middle of March."</p>.<p>"I hope and I believe, actually, that it will be extended. That is because it is an obvious case for international humanitarian security."</p>.<p>One complication is that the initiative was agreed in parallel with a deal aimed at smoothing the way for exports of Russian fertiliser.</p>.<p>The memorandum of understanding between the UN and Russia -- due to last three years -- sought to ensure that sanctions imposed on Moscow over the war did not block such exports, which are also seen as vital to the world food supply.</p>.<p>But Moscow has repeatedly complained that the deal is not being respected.</p>.<p>The last time the Black Sea Grain Initiative was up for renewal, Russia briefly threatened to block it over the fertiliser impasse.</p>.<p>Griffiths acknowledged that it was "much more complicated in many ways to make (the fertiliser deal) work."</p>.<p>"But it is important that it does work," he said, insisting that freeing up fertiliser exports is "of the highest priority."</p>.<p>Griffiths said a lot of work had gone into making the deals work, admitting though that there was "a lot more to be done on that front."</p>
<p>The UN warned Wednesday that agreements to enable grain shipments from war-torn Ukraine, desperately needed to ward off hunger in poor countries, were in "difficult territory."</p>.<p>The hard-won Black Sea Grain Initiative was brokered by the UN and Turkey last July. It was renewed a first time in November and is up for renewal again on March 18.</p>.<p>"I think we're in slightly more difficult territory at the moment," UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths told reporters.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/a-year-into-war-ukraines-zelenskyy-defies-putin-against-the-odds-1191420.html" target="_blank">A year into war, Ukraine's Zelenskyy defies Putin against the odds</a></strong><br /><br />He insisted though that the arguments for continuing were "conclusive and persuasive," stressing that "the Global South ... needs that operation to continue."</p>.<p>Ukraine is one of the world's top cereal producers.</p>.<p>After Russia launched its invasion nearly a year ago, 20 million tonnes of grain were blocked in its ports until a safe passage deal was agreed.</p>.<p>Nearly 20 million tonnes of cereal have been exported since then, said Griffiths, insisting: "We don't need it stopped in the middle of March."</p>.<p>"I hope and I believe, actually, that it will be extended. That is because it is an obvious case for international humanitarian security."</p>.<p>One complication is that the initiative was agreed in parallel with a deal aimed at smoothing the way for exports of Russian fertiliser.</p>.<p>The memorandum of understanding between the UN and Russia -- due to last three years -- sought to ensure that sanctions imposed on Moscow over the war did not block such exports, which are also seen as vital to the world food supply.</p>.<p>But Moscow has repeatedly complained that the deal is not being respected.</p>.<p>The last time the Black Sea Grain Initiative was up for renewal, Russia briefly threatened to block it over the fertiliser impasse.</p>.<p>Griffiths acknowledged that it was "much more complicated in many ways to make (the fertiliser deal) work."</p>.<p>"But it is important that it does work," he said, insisting that freeing up fertiliser exports is "of the highest priority."</p>.<p>Griffiths said a lot of work had gone into making the deals work, admitting though that there was "a lot more to be done on that front."</p>