Report: Ukraine asks Turkey, UN to start grain deal talks

MOSCOW/U.N., Mar 1 (PRIME) -- Ukraine has sent a request to Turkey and the U.N. on the start of negotiations to prolong the grain deal expiring on March 18, but received no response, Reuters reported late on Tuesday citing a Ukrainian government source.

Spokeswoman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Eri Kaneko told PRIME that the authority did not confirm the start of any direct negotiations on prolongation of the deal.

According to representative for the secretary general Stephane Dujarric, the U.N. continues efforts to remove barriers for exports of Russian fertilizers and food, which was a part of the deal.

Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the U.N. signed the deal on July 22 to expire on November 18 unless no country objected to an automatic 120-day prolongation. The prolongation was signed in November.

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