Turkey expressed confidence that the agreement on the export of grain through the Black Sea will be extended.

Russia and Ukraine are taking a positive approach to the issue and "we believe it will lead to a positive outcome," Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told the state-run Anadolu news agency.

"We believe the deadline will be extended on March 18."

Since the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has blocked all Ukrainian seaports and blocked the export of Ukrainian grain completely.

In July 2022, the Black Sea Grain initiative under the auspices of the UN and brokered by Turkey allowed controlled exports from three Black Sea ports.

Ukraine will ask Turkey and the UN to start negotiations to extend the "grain deal"

During his visit to Kiev last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also discussed with the Ukrainian leadership the extension of the grain agreement.

According to UN data, since August 2022, within the framework of the initiative, about 23 million tons of grain have been exported from Ukraine.

This agreement expires on March 18.

grain deal