Russia Pushes Demands Before Agreeing to Extend Grain Deal With Ukraine

Turkey thinks the Ukraine Black Sea grain deal could be extended for at least two more months.
Russia is demanding the West removes obstacles to its grain and fertilisers in talks underway in Turkey on Thursday on extending a deal allowing safe Black Sea exports of agricultural products from three Ukrainian ports.
Russia wants the West to remove obstacles to the export of its grain and fertilizers before it agrees to the extension of a deal allowing safe Black Sea exports of agricultural products from three Ukrainian ports.
Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, and U.N. officials held talks on the Black Sea grain deal in Istanbul but Russia has demanded the removal of obstacles to its own grain and fertilizer exports to extend the pact beyond May 18.
Ukraine seeks to extend a grain deal to supply nations in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia but talks involving Turkish, Russian, Ukrainian, and UN officials failed to yield a decision for an extension as Russia opposes broadening the agreement and its "indefinite expansion."