Report: Ankara continues talks to resume grain deal

ISTANBUL, Jul 20 (PRIME) -- Ankara continues negotiations with Russia, the U.N. and Ukraine to resume the grain deal, newswire IHA reported on Thursday citing sources in the Turkish Defense Ministry.

"We, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry of Turkey, are in contact with the U.N., the Russian Federation and Ukraine to resume the grain deal stopped by Moscow," the sources said.

TV channel CNN Turk reported citing sources in the Turkish Defense Ministry that the Russian delegation left the Istanbul coordination center for the deal on Thursday.

Spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said that the center stopped its operations.

Russia sent an objection against an automatic rollover on Monday and stopped implementing the Black Sea Grain Initiative on Tuesday, but promised a return when its conditions are met. The agreement is to expire in three months after a rollover objection letter.

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