According to WSL, the plan provides for an “increase in capacity” from Ukraine by October to export 4 million tons of grain per month. Most of the grain will be sent along the Danube River, as well as across the Black Sea to nearby ports in Romania. The product will then be transported to other countries. But such a route is slower and more expensive.

Vedant Patel, State Department deputy spokesperson, said the US has urged Russia to immediately return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, adding that Washington is finding ways to get grain to the places it needs to go without providing details.

Turkey and the US are accelerating diplomatic effort to bring Russia back to the Initiative.