UN: Consultations continue with all parties on Black Sea grain agreement

Informal consultations are ongoing between the world body and the parties involved in the Black Sea grain export agreement on its extension, a UN spokesman said on Tuesday, adding that face-to-face talks with Russia were over.

A spokesman for the U.N. Office for Humanitarian Affairs, run by Martin Griffiths, responded to Reuters' questions by email, saying: "The talks ended yesterday as agreed, but consultations are continuing with all parties."

Griffiths and senior U.N. trade official Rebecca Greenspan met Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin in Geneva on Monday, where the latter proposed renewing the agreement for 60 days, half the duration of the previous renewal.