Istanbul rejects extension of grain deal - Turkish Defense Ministry

17:00 11 May Kyiv, Ukraine

Multilateral negotiations with the participation of Ukraine, Turkey, Russia and UN representatives on the "grain initiative" will continue, the Turkish Ministry of Defense reports following a two-day meeting of the parties. An agreement to continue the "grain initiative" was not adopted during the meeting.
"The parties agreed to continue working under the leadership of Turkey at the technical level in a quadripartite format so that" the grain initiative will continue its effective activities in the coming period, " the report says.
As stated in the Turkish Defense Ministry for two days, May 10 and 11, "useful meetings were held with constructive approaches of the parties."
“The parties expressed a positive approach to coordinating the return of our merchant ships and their crews, which are stuck in Ukrainian ports due to conflict conditions, to planning and conducting evacuation activities. In addition, we agreed that this operation will become a model for the evacuation of ships from other countries stuck in Ukrainian ports, and will support the work that will be carried out in this direction in the near future,” the report says.
The Turkish Defense Ministry also notes that since the signing of the agreement, there has been positive progress in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which "made a significant contribution to the stability of food prices around the world and is vital in terms of global food supply and security."

The day before, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu suggested that following the meeting of the parties, the term of the "grain agreement" could be extended by two months.
"The Black Sea Grain Initiative, which is about to expire, may be extended for another two months at a meeting between the delegations of Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and the UN in Istanbul," Cavusoglu said.