9 Mar 2023 15:07

Turkey says continuing contacts with Russia, Ukraine and UN on grain deal prospects

ISTANBUL. March 9 (Interfax) - Turkey is continuing to discuss the possibility of extending the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which expires on March 18, with Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations, the Anadolu news agency said on Thursday, citing Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.

"The defense minister of Turkey has said that Ankara is continuing contacts with the UN, Ukraine and the Russian Federation on extending the grain deal, which expires on March 18," the news agency said.

On Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who went to Ukraine to discuss the Istanbul grain deal with President Vladimir Zelensky, once again called for extending this agreement.

The UN, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine signed documents in Istanbul on July 22, 2022 to export grain from three ports in Ukrainian territory, Chernomorsk, Odessa and Yuzhny, and to remove barriers to the export of Russian food products and fertilizers.