Kiev is “not very optimistic” that the international agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain, which expires in July, will be renewed, the deputy prime minister of the Ukrainian government and responsible for the reconstruction of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kubrakov, said today.

“We are not very optimistic this time,” Kubrakov told reporters on the sidelines of an international conference on his country’s reconstruction, being held in London.

According to Kubrakov, more agricultural products have recently been exported from some ports than from the corridor established by the agreement reached in July 2022 brokered by the United Nations and Turkey.

“We are doing our best to preserve this initiative,” he added, noting that it is of “capital importance” to global food security. “We understand how important it is to Africa,” he said, commenting that Ukraine is trying to find “alternative routes” to export its products.

The international agreement was extended until July 18 after difficult, complicated negotiations with Russia. Last week, however, Moscow threatened to withdraw from the deal, arguing that some of its terms were not being met. Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Kiev, among other things, of using the sea lanes provided for in the agreement to launch attacks on the Russian fleet with drones.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently said he was “concerned” about the future of the agreement and was “working hard” to extend it.