The Turkish Defense Minister says his country is in touch with both Ukraine and Russia about extending the Black Sea Grain initiative under its original terms.
Turkey is hoping that the grain export deal between Kiev and Moscow can be extended for another 120 days — but time is running out.
The current deal expires just before midnight on Saturday, Istanbul time.
“The deadline is approaching,” Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Friday, noting that his country is “in touch with both Ukraine and Russia about extending the agreement under its original terms.”
The start of the Ukraine war in February 2022 saw Ukraine’s Black Sea ports blocked by warships. But a deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in July 2022 — and signed by Kiev and Moscow — has allowed for the safe passage of exports of critical grain supplies.
The original terms of the Black Sea Grain initiative that Akar referred to — according to the deal — were for the 120-day extensions to be automatically renewed for the same period unless one of the parties says otherwise.
The initial agreement was extended in November until March 18, and should — in theory — be extended another 120 days after it expires at 11:59 pm Istanbul time Saturday (2059 GMT).
Source: Almayadeen
