MOSCOW: A Russian official said a landmark deal allowing Ukraine to export grain through its Black Sea ports has been extended for 60 days, though Kyiv said it would stick to a 120-day extension and Turkey said talks were ongoing.
Since Russia and Ukraine signed the U.N.-backed Black Sea Grain Initiative in Turkey on July 22, millions of tonnes of grain and other food products have been exported from Ukrainian ports.
Russia on Monday suggested allowing the deal to be renewed, but for half the term of the previous renewal, while the United Nations pledged to do everything possible to ensure the agreement's integrity remained intact.
"Indeed, the deal has been extended - it has been agreed that it has been extended for 60 days," the TASS news agency cited Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko as saying on Tuesday.
RIA news agency also quoted Grushko as saying the deal had been extended. According to RIA, Grushko cited another deputy foreign minister, Sergei Vershinin, confirming the extension.
United Nations officials gave no immediate comment on the extension.
It was not immediately clear how the deal could be extended for half of the previous renewal. Turkey said talks continued, while Ukraine said it will stick to the terms of the previously agreed deal.
"We will follow the agreement strictly," a senior Ukrainian government official told Reuters. The official declined to be identified.
In a statement that said talks were ongoing, the Turkish defence ministry cited Russia as agreeing to back a 60-day extension to the deal, brokered between Moscow and Kyiv in July by Turkey and the United Nations.
Russia has said that, although the West has not explicitly targeted the country's agricultural exports, sanctions on its payments, logistics and insurance industries have created a barrier to the export of its grains and fertilisers.
Reuters
Tue Mar 14 2023
Commercial vessels including vessels that are part of Black Sea grain deal wait to pass the Bosphorus strait off the shores of Yenikapi during a misty morning in Istanbul, Turkey. - REUTERS/Filepic
Ringgit susut berbanding dolar AS pada sesi awal
Pada 9 pagi, ringgit merosot kepada 4.7770/7825 berbanding dolar AS daripada 4.7745/7775 pada Khamis.
MAQIS tahan dua ekor anjing dari China, identiti mengelirukan
Pemeriksaan mendapati nombor mikrocip yang diimbas pada badan anjing tidak sepadan dengan nombor mikrocip yang diikrar dalam permit import.
Panggilan Google Meet kini boleh dipindahkan antara peranti tanpa henti
Pengguna kini boleh memindahkan panggilan Google Meet antara telefon pintar dan pelayar web tanpa henti.
Niaga SPOTLIGHT: Sustainability & palm supply chains
Kerentanan Android TV menyebabkan akaun Gmail boleh dirampas
Sebuah kerentanan yang agak serius wujud membolehkan sesiapa sahaja mengakses akaun Gmail yang di log masuk ke TV.
Rumah terbuka Selangor di Kuala Kubu Bharu Sabtu ini langgar akta - Bersih
Bersih persoal lokasi dan masa penganjuran rumah terbuka ini kerana majlis ini dianjurkan di kawasan dan ketika PRK Kuala Kubu Bharu.
AWANI Ringkas: Kedutaan AS sangkal dakwaan Prof Gilley
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
EPL: Manchester City himpit Arsenal
Gawang The Seagulls robek lagi kali ini menerusi bintang meningkat naik Phil Foden dengan gol pada minit ke-26 dan 34.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Gerakan turun padang, sokong PN
Gerakan berkata, parti itu akan bersama-sama memastikan untuk merampas kerusi DAP pada pilihan raya kecil kali ini.
Penstrukturan Akaun KWSP: Seimbangkan disiplin, fleksibiliti dalam pengurusan kewangan
Semua caruman selepas tarikh berkenaan akan diperuntukkan ke dalam akaun baharu mengikut pecahan iaitu sebanyak 75 peratus ke dalam Akaun Persaraan, 15 peratus Akaun Sejahtera dan 10 peratus Akaun Fleksibel. Bagaiman akaun yang distruktur kepada tiga akaun mampu membawa pengurusan kewangan yang lebih cekap?