G20 urge grain deal extension without delay - Blinken

WASHINGTON. March 2 (Interfax) - The summit of the Group of Twenty (G20) has sent a clear signal that the Black Sea grain initiative should be extended, and without delay, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

"The message that the countries set at today's meeting is clear - extend the Black Sea Initiative and strengthen it. And do that without delay," Blinken told a press conference after summit on Thursday.

The deal was signed in Istanbul on July 22 with the participation of the United Nations, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. The documents created a corridor for grain to be carried out of three Ukrainian ports: Chernomorsk, Odessa and Yuzhny. In late February it was reported that Ukrainian food exports under the deal exceeded 22 million.

The initiative expires on March 18 this year.