Talks underway in Turkey on Ukraine’s grain exports grain deal
Ankara, May 5 (EFE).- Experts from Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and United Nations were gathered in Istanbul on Friday to discuss the possible extension of Ukraine’s Black Sea grain exports deal, which is due to expire on May 18.
“Before the meeting of the deputy (defense) ministers, it became necessary to hold a meeting of the technical staff of the UN, Turkey, Russia and Ukraine,” said Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said, according to official Anadolu news agency.
The “technical level” meeting will be followed by a meeting of deputy defense ministers next week, Akar added.
“We continue our efforts to ensure that the grain initiative continues in a fast, safe, and planned manner. We got the impression from discussions that these efforts will produce positive results,” Akar said, as quoted by the Turkish public broadcaster TRT.
Russia and Ukraine, with the mediation of Turkey and the UN, agreed in July last year to allow the export of grains from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, blocked by Russia, after war between the two nations began in February 2022.
The grain exports deal between Ukraine and Russia is due to expire on May 18.
“We continue our efforts to speed up our negotiations as much as possible before this period expires,” Akar said.
Ukraine is one of the world’s largest producers of different types of grains, particularly wheat, corn and barley. EFE
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