Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar confirmed on Friday that negotiators are getting closer to reaching an agreement on extending the Black Sea grain deal. According to a statement released by the ministry, Russia and Ukraine have been discussing the terms of the deal's extension in Istanbul with Turkish and United Nations officials as mediators.
Russia previously warned it will not renew the deal if it doesn't receive guarantees that its demands will be met before the May 18 deadline. The talks are focused on allowing agricultural exports from southern Ukrainian ports to continue in exchange for the lifting of restrictions on Russian agricultural exports to customers overseas.
The conflicted sides signed two documents that ensure sea grain corridors remain open in July last year. Sputnik separately reported that there is still no agreement, but that the talks are expected to continue.