13 Oct 2022 22:03

UN welcomes Erdogan-Putin talks on extending grain deal

NEW YORK, UN. Oct 13 (Interfax) - The United Nations welcomes Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the possible extension of the Black Sea grain deal, which expires in November, Stephane Dujarric, the UN secretary-general's spokesperson, said on Thursday.

"We are welcoming the news coming out of meeting between Mr. Putin and Mr. Erdogan talking about a possibility of extension of that deal that pass its date in November," Dujarric said at a press briefing.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has just been in touch with Turkish authorities trying to get more details, he said.

As previously reported, UN Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths will visit Moscow to discuss the grain deal on October 16.

Russia, Turkey and Ukraine signed the UN-brokered document in Istanbul on July 22 to open a corridor for grain exports from three Ukrainian ports - Chernomorsk, Odessa and Yuzhny.

Previously, the Western media reported that the grain deal was jeopardized due to a large number of ships waiting in line to ship Ukrainian grain.