UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebecca Greenspan is slated to travel to Moscow this week to discuss the grain agreement, according to TASS reporting referencing an UNCTAD spokesperson.
Speaking through UNCTAD, the spokesperson confirmed Greenspan will be in Moscow to address the status and future of the grain pact, detailing that discussions will include participating parties and relevant stakeholders.
Earlier, Reuters, citing a Ukrainian official, indicated that talks on extending the grain arrangement—set to expire on May 18—were planned for May 3 with all involved parties expected to take part.
The remarks come as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope that the grain deal would be extended beyond the May 18 deadline.
In a telephone conversation on April 28, Turkish President Erdogan discussed the need to extend the grain deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sabah, a Turkish newspaper, cited unnamed sources in reporting the discussion of potential extension efforts.
Analysts note that the dialogue among UN, Turkish, and Russian officials reflects a broader effort to stabilize grain shipments and address global import needs, with several parties signaling a willingness to pursue a longer-term arrangement if terms can be agreed upon. Attribution: press statements from TASS, Reuters reports, and Sabah coverage reflect the ongoing international negotiations surrounding the grain agreement.