Türkiye, Russia, Ukraine, UN Discuss Extension of Black Sea Grain Deal in Istanbul

5/11/2023 9:02:14 AM

(MENAFN) Türkiye, Russia, Ukraine, and the UN began two-day talks on the Black Sea grain deal in Istanbul later on Wednesday, Cavusoglu said.

The meeting will be attended by the deputy foreign ministers and deputy national defense ministers from Türkiye and Russia as well as the deputy infrastructure minister from Ukraine, the top diplomat said.

Cavusoglu hoped that they will get a positive result at the meeting regarding the extension of the initiative.

“I think sides can reach a consensus to extend the deal for at least two more months after a meeting is held between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the final phase,” Cavusoglu added.

The extension of the initiative, as well as the development of a detailed and safe evacuation plan for the return of merchant ships and their crews stranded in Ukrainian ports due to the conflict, will be discussed during the talks in Istanbul, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said in a statement Tuesday.

The deal is set to expire on May 18.

Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed the agreement in Istanbul last July to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which were halted after the Russia-Ukraine war began in February 2022.

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