A United Nations spokesperson confirmed on Saturday the extension of a deal allowing exports of grain, related foodstuffs and fertilizers from designated Ukrainian seaports.

Axar.az reports that Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said this in a statement.

"The Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed in Istanbul on 22 July 2022, has been extended," the spokesperson mentioned.

On July 22, 2022, Russia and Ukraine separately signed a document in Istanbul with Turkiye and the United Nations on grain and fertilizer exports from Ukraine and Russia to ensure supplies to global markets amid the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict.

The deal, initially in effect for 120 days, was extended in mid-November 2022 for another 120 days to March 18.

"We express our gratitude to the government of Turkiye for the diplomatic and operational support to the Black Sea Grain Initiative," Dujarric said in the statement.