Turkey Talks About Approaching Extension of Black Sea Grain Agreement

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar stated that "the parties in the grain export agreement via the Black Sea are close to reaching an understanding to extend it," following two days of talks hosted in Istanbul. Officials from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and the United Nations are participating in these discussions. Russia emphasizes that "the agreement will not be extended unless Moscow receives guarantees to meet its demands by the expiration of the current extension on May 18."