The United Nations and Turkey brokered the grain deal through Black Sea ports for an initial period of 120 days in July, to help tackle a global food crisis exacerbated by the outbreak of war in Ukraine, one of the largest grain exporters in the world.
Moscow agreed to extend the Black Sea deal for another 120 days in November, but agreed in March to extend it for just 60 days, until May 18, until a list of demands for its agricultural exports are satisfied.
In July, to persuade Russia to allow grain exports from the Black Sea, the United Nations meanwhile agreed to help Moscow with its agricultural shipments for three years.
Russian media quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as telling reporters on Tuesday: “There are still a lot of unanswered questions about our part of the deal. Now a decision has to be made.”
Senior officials from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations met in Istanbul last week to discuss the Black Sea deal. “Contacts are taking place at different levels. It is clear that we are at a sensitive stage,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu believes the deal could be extended for at least another two months.
While Russian food and fertilizer exports are not subject to Western sanctions imposed in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine that erupted in February 2022, Moscow says restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance are a hindrance. to shipments.
A United Nations spokesman said a ship was still in a Ukrainian port under the agreement and was due to leave on Wednesday and cross the sea lane with its cargo, another ship was on its way back to the Turkey on Tuesday and five other vessels awaiting inspection in Turkish waters.
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