The blackmail did not work: the "grain" corridor was extended for another 60 days.

Today turkish President Redzhep Taiip Erdogan announced the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative for another two months.

This was reported by Anadolu Agency.

Thanks to the efforts of our country, the support of our Russian friends and the contribution of our Ukrainian friends, it was decided to extend the grain corridor agreement for two more months," Erdogan announced during a live broadcast of an address to fellow party members and leaders of his Justice and Development Party cells.

Erdogan did not specify whether the extension of the "grain deal" provides for the fulfillment of the requirements previously insisted on by the Russian Federation - the lifting of some financial sanctions.

Without the extension of the deal, the previous grain agreement would automatically expire tomorrow, Thursday, May 18.

Earlier today, the United Nations published the Russian Federation's demands for the continuation of the Ukrainian Black Sea Grain Initiative. In particular, Moscow demanded: the restoration of the Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) SWIFT payment system, the restoration of supplies of agricultural machinery and spare parts to Russia, the removal of restrictions on insurance and access to ports for Russian vessels and cargo, the restart of the ammonia pipeline from Togliatti to Odesa, the unblocking of accounts and financial activities of Russian fertilizer companies.

At the same time, Russia does not stop its military and occupation actions on the territory of the sovereign state of Ukraine for a single day, continues daily rocket attacks on Ukraine, destroying energy infrastructure, residential buildings, killing civilians, including children.

Recall that in July 2022, the United Nations and Turkey entered into an agreement to export Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea to help overcome the global food crisis that Russia provoked by starting a war against Ukraine.

Representatives of Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations are members of the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) in Istanbul, which deals with the implementation of the grain agreement.

At the last moment before the expiration of the next term of the "grain agreement" on March 18, it was nevertheless extended. However, the Russian Federation soon announced that it had agreed to an extension of only 60 days - half of the standard 120-day period - and threatened to terminate the agreement if its demands were not met.