Turkey's President Tayyip Erdoğan announced on March 18, 2023, that the deal allowing the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports had been renewed, but he did not disclose the length of the extension period.
The pact was brokered with Russia and Ukraine by the United Nations and Turkey in July to combat a global food crisis that was fueled in part by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Black Sea blockade.
The deal, which was due to expire on the same day, had previously been renewed for a further 120 days in November. Russia has called for renewing the deal for only 60 days, while Ukraine was insisting on a 120-day renewal.
Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov confirmed that the extension had been agreed for 120 days, according to his Twitter post.
Update:
Russia has notified all parties to the Black Sea grain deal that the agreement has been extended for 60 days and reiterated it would not consider another extension until its concerns have been addressed.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova posted a copy of a letter from Russia's permanent representation to the United Nations saying Moscow would not object to the deal being extended by 60 days to May 18.
“Consideration by the Russian side of a further extension of the (deal) after the indicated date will only be possible subject to tangible progress” being made on the question of exporting Russian food and fertilizer, it said.