Ukraine in talks over grain exports deal extension: official

KIEV, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said that Kiev is holding talks over the extension of a key grain exports deal, which expires next month, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported Wednesday.

Ukraine does not conduct direct negotiations with Russia, but is involved in a dialogue with Türkiye and the United Nations within the negotiating groups, Podolyak said.

Describing the talks as "difficult", Podolyak voiced his hope that Ukraine will manage to extend the mandate on exporting grain from its ports.

On July 22, Ukraine and Russia separately signed a deal with Türkiye and the United Nations in Istanbul to resume food and fertilizer shipments from Ukrainian ports to international markets via the Black Sea.

Since the deal came into effect on Aug. 1, a total of 274 vessels carrying 6.2 million tons of agricultural products departed from Ukrainian ports for the countries in Asia, Europe and Africa, according to Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry.

The agreement is due to expire on Nov. 19.