Turkey’s Foreign Minister believes the Ukraine Black Sea grain deal could be extended for at least two more months, as officials from the parties involved held the first day of talks yesterday on an extension in Istanbul.

Russia has said it would not extend the pact beyond May 18th, unless a list of demands is met to remove obstacles to its own grain and fertilizer exports.

The Minister hoped a positive result will be achieved in Istanbul, where talks were set to continue today (Thu).

The U.N. and Turkey brokered the Black Sea export agreement last July to help tackle a global food crisis that has been worsened by Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

The United Nations said inspections resumed on Tuesday of outbound vessels under a deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain.

There were no inbound or outbound inspections of ships on Sunday or Monday.