Turkish president says Ukraine grain deal extended, does not confirm how long

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday announced the extension of a deal that allowed exports of Ukrainian grain to resume following Russia's invasion.

"Following talks with the two parties, we have assured the extension of the deal that was due to expire on March 19," Erdogan said in comments broadcast on Turkish television, just hours before the agreement was due to expire at midnight.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Istanbul grain deal:

- As a result of our negotiations with both parties, we have ensured extension of agreement period expiring on March 19
- In terms of global food supply, this is a vital project pic.twitter.com/0YRh9O0EEZ

— TRT World (@trtworld) March 18, 2023

There were conflicting reports on how long the deal was extended, and Erdogan did not say.

While Ukraine's infrastructure minister said the deal had been extended for 120 days, Russia said it was 60 days, the RBC media outlet quoted Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying.

"(The) Black Sea Grain Initiative agreement is extended for 120 days. Grateful to Antonio Guterres, the United Nations, President Erdogan, Minister Hulusi Akar and all our partners for sticking to the agreements," Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Twitter.

Ankara had previously said it wanted a 120-day extension, while Russia was in favour of a 60-day extension.

Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 saw Ukraine's Black Sea ports blocked by warships.

But a deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in July 2022 - and signed by Kyiv and Moscow - had allowed for the safe passage of exports of critical grain supplies. The initial agreement was extended in November until March 18.

Ukraine was one of the world's top producers, and the so-called Black Sea Grain Initiative has helped soothe the global food crunch triggered by the conflict.