Turkey calls on Ukraine, Russia to extend Black Sea grain deal

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - As the November 19 deadline approaches, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday called on Ukraine and Russia to extend the Black Sea grain export deal.

The United Nations and Turkey brokered a deal between Russia and Ukraine in July in Istanbul, allowing for the resumption of exports of Ukrainian grain and other foodstuffs for the first time since the start of the war in February.

 "We told them that the longer they keep this deal, the more accurate it will be," Erdogan said at the Organization of Turkic States Summit in Uzbekistan. 

The Turkish President stressed that Ankara will balance its neutrality between both sides and operate the grain corridor deal, while maintaining its relations with both Moscow and Kyiv. 

Erdogan added that Turkey is determined to export Russian grain to less developed countries such as Mali, Somalia, and Sudan.

Currently, both Russia and Ukraine are discussing the possibility of extending the agreement to resume grain exports from three Black Sea ports in Ukraine beyond what Erdogan said before the November 19 deadline.

Following the signing of the deal, the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) was launched in Istanbul with the purpose of monitoring the shipments through the Black Sea and facilitating the implementation of the agreement.

On August 1, the first ship carrying grain since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war departed from Ukrainian ports, and it arrived in Turkish waters for inspection two days later.

Russia in February launched an invasion of Ukraine , leading to a pressing rise in global food prices, as the two countries play a large role in exporting foodstuffs to the international market.

Ukraine exports over 10 percent of the world’s wheat, and over 48 percent of sunflower products, including seeds, and oil, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization.