Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat urged on Tuesday the parties to the grain deal to resume the supply of grain and fertilizers from Ukraine and Russia to Africa.
"I regret the suspension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative for which the African Union had been an early advocate. I urge parties to resolve any issues to resume the continued safe passage of grains and fertiliser from Ukraine and Russia to where it is needed, particularly in Africa," Mahamat said on Twitter.
The AU's statement comes as on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the grain deal was de facto terminated, however, Moscow would immediately return to its implementation as soon as the commitments toward Moscow are fulfilled.
On Tuesday, Peskov also revealed that Russia is now in contact with partners from Africa on the issue of grain and fertilizers supply and will continue the discussion during the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg later this month.
Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations struck a package agreement to provide a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships carrying food and fertilizer from Ukrainian Black Sea ports on July 22, 2022.
Despite having since agreed to several extensions to the grain deal, Moscow has been pointing out that the deal's component on the facilitation of Russian grain and fertilizer exports was not being fulfilled.