Russia confirmed that the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports is extended for two months.

The representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova said the deal was being extended to help countries in need, but added that Russia’s overall assessment of the situation regarding the deal “it hasn’t changed.”

The confirmation from the Russian side came shortly after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the extension of the so-called Black Sea Grain Initiative.

For its part, Kiev welcomed the development, but noted that Moscow must not be allowed to sabotage the agreement and stop using food “as a weapon and as an object of blackmail,” said senior Ukrainian official Oleksandr Kubrakov.

“We welcome the continuation of the (Black Sea Grains) Initiative, but stress that it must work effectively,” Deputy Prime Minister Kubrakov said in a Facebook post.