The Financial Times quoted an informed Turkish official as saying that preliminary discussions on extending the grain deal are continuing between the United Nations, Turkey, Ukraine and Russia at various levels.
The source added that the negotiators participating in the discussions are confident of the possibility of extending the grain agreement before its expiry date next Saturday.
According to the source - quoted by the British newspaper - a compromise was reached with Russia within the framework of the grain agreement regarding payments for its agricultural exports and the reopening of a pipeline carrying ammonia that passes through Ukraine.
The Financial Times indicated that this solution requires providing a secure system for payments in US banks.
And a report by Bloomberg News Agency said today, Tuesday, that Russia is expected to agree to extend the agreement brokered by the United Nations to allow the export of grain and other agricultural products through the Black Sea.
And the report stated - quoting 4 sources familiar with the talks - that it is likely that Russia will allow the extension of the agreement, which expires on November 19.
However, the sources did not specify whether Russia would seek to add new conditions in exchange for the extension or any other details.
Reuters news agency quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today, Tuesday, as saying that the United Nations informed him of written commitments from the United States and the European Union to remove obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertilizers.
Lavrov said he had received pledges in this regard from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during a meeting held on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.
Russia has long complained about restrictions on its agricultural exports, although it is not directly targeted by Western sanctions.
She indicated that the extension of the Black Sea Agreement, which allowed the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports last July, and is scheduled to expire next Saturday, depends on resolving this issue in a way that meets Moscow's demands.
It is noteworthy that the Safe Shipping Initiative document for grains and foodstuffs from Ukrainian ports in Istanbul was signed on July 22 between Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations, and the agreement included securing grain exports suspended in Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea to the world to address the global food shortage crisis that threatens a humanitarian catastrophe.