Ensuring unrestricted navigation in the Black Sea is vital for maintaining global food security and stabilizing supply chains, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric emphasized on Wednesday.

His remarks followed the U.S. announcement of separate agreements with Ukraine and Russia to temporarily halt attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure and Black Sea operations. However, despite these arrangements, tensions between Moscow and Kyiv remain evident.

The United Nations has long been advocating for secure maritime access in the region. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres initially proposed a framework for "safe and free navigation" in February last year, addressing the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey.

A breakthrough came in July 2022 with the Black Sea Initiative, brokered by the U.N. and Turkey, which facilitated the safe export of Ukrainian grain. In parallel, a three-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) was established, committing the U.N. to assist Russia in overcoming barriers to its food and fertilizer exports.

However, Russia pulled out of the initiative in July 2023, citing ongoing obstacles to its agricultural trade. Despite this setback, the U.N. has continued efforts to uphold the MOU. Top U.N. trade official Rebeca Grynspan engaged in further discussions with Russian officials in Moscow earlier this week to address these concerns.

"The United Nations remains committed to supporting the memorandum’s implementation," Dujarric stated, reiterating that the Secretary-General remains open to facilitating diplomatic solutions in pursuit of regional stability and peace.