UN aid chief in Türkiye to discuss Ukraine grain deal renewal

By Betul Yuruk

UNITED NATIONS (AA) - UN's aid chief Martin Grifftihs met Russian and Turkish officials Tuesday in Istanbul to discuss the renewal of a deal that allows Ukrainian grain exports, according to a spokesman.

UN's deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters the Emergency Relief Coordinator visited the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) in Istanbul that inspects ships exporting grain from Ukrainian ports.

''Mr. Griffiths met with the Russian, Turkish and Ukrainian delegations at the JCC as well as with the UN team and thanked all sides for their hard work, dedication and commitment to the initiative and discussed areas of improvement in the implementation of the agreement,'' said Haq.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.

"They had a lengthy meeting and they went through all the aspects related to the process of facilitation of Russian exports -- food and fertilizers -- and the Black Sea Grain Initiative," said Haq.

Asked by Anadolu Agency if the UN chief received assurances from Russia to extend the deal, Haq said: ''As we get to the coming days, what those intentions are will become clear.''

Türkiye, the UN, Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement July 22 in Istanbul to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which were paused after the Russia-Ukraine war began in February.

More than 10 million tons of grain have been exported from Ukraine since Aug. 1, according to the UN.