ISTANBUL. May 4 (Interfax) - Representatives from Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations will meet on Friday for technical negotiations regarding the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Thursday.
"Prior to a meeting of deputy defense ministers, it has become necessary to hold a meeting involving technical staff from the UN, Turkey, Russia and Ukraine. This meeting will be held on May 5," Akar was quoted by the Anadolu Agency as saying.
Only after Friday's talks have taken place will deputy defense ministers meet next week to discuss an extension of the deal, he said.
"Deputy defense ministers are due to meet next week," Akar said.
Talks between deputy defense ministers were being arranged for May 5, Akar said yesterday.
The grain deal was signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022. The UN, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine signed two documents to open a grain corridor from three Ukrainian ports (Chernomorsk, Odessa and Yuzhny) and to lift restrictions on Russian food and fertilizer exports.