Dutch leader hails Black Sea grain initiative

BALI, Indonesia

The Black Sea grain initiative is "excellent," the Dutch Prime Minister said on Tuesday in doorstep remarks at the ongoing G-20 Summit in Indonesia's Bali.

Following a bilateral meeting, Mark Rutte responded to a question by Anadolu Agency, hailing the landmark deal signed on July 22.

Türkiye, the UN, Russia and Ukraine signed the agreement in Istanbul to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which had been paused in February due to Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The parties are currently negotiating a possible extension and expansion beyond its Nov. 19 deadline, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying that Ankara is determined to transfer Russian grain and fertilizers to less-developed countries.