Turkey supports the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative by 120 days and is in talks with Ukraine and Russia to conclude a corresponding agreement. This was stated in Ankara by Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, Bloomberg reports..

An agreement allowing the safe passage of grain exports from three ports has allowed Ukraine to ship more than 24 million tons of food since it was signed last July..

It helped lower food prices, which rose to record levels after the Russian invasion disrupted trade flows..

[see_also ids\u003d"

Earlier, the Turkish Ministry of Defense stated that on March 13, negotiations were held in Geneva under the coordination of the UN between the delegations of the UN, the Russian Federation and Ukraine..

During the meeting, Russia announced that it would support a 60-day extension of the agreement if there was sufficient progress in facilitating the export of Russian food products and fertilizers to international markets.. According to the Minister of Infrastructure and Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov, the proposal of the Russian Federation to extend the agreement for 60 days contradicts the agreement itself, which provides for an extension for at least 120 days.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative was established by Ukraine, Turkey, the Russian Federation and the UN on July 22 with the aim of resuming the export of grain from Ukraine, food and fertilizers, including ammonia, through a secure maritime humanitarian corridor. The first ship with Ukrainian food within the framework of the Initiative left the port of Odessa on August 1. Agreement expires March 18.