Erdogan confirms Istanbul grain deal extended for 120 days

ISTANBUL. Nov 17 (Interfax) - The UN-brokered grain deal involving Russia, Ukraine and Turkey has been extended for 120 days, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

"In accordance with the resolution reached by Turkey, the UN, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine, the Black Sea Grain Initiative was extended for an additional 120 days beginning November 19, 2022, as a result of the quadrilateral discussions hosted by Turkey," Erdogan said on social media on Thursday.

"I would like to thank United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President [Vladimir] Putin of Russia, and President [Vladimir] Zelensky of Ukraine, for their willingness to prolong the agreement, and I would also like to congratulate all those who contributed," he said.

"With the delivery of more than 11 million tonnes of grains and foodstuffs to those in need via approximately 500 ships over the past four months, the significance and benefits of this agreement for the food supply and security of the world have become evident," the Turkish president said.

Guterres said earlier in the day that the participants in the Black Sea Grain Initiative - Russia, Turkey and Ukraine - had agreed to extend it.

The UN, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine signed documents in Istanbul on July 22 of this year on opening a corridor to export grain from three ports in Ukrainian territory - Chernomorsk, Odessa and Yuzhny.