The grain deal has been extended until July 17 inclusive, without any changes, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. If all problematic issues on the deal are not resolved within two months, the agreement will be terminated after July 17, it noted.
"In connection with the expiration on May 18 of the 60-day deadline for extending the Black Sea Initiative for the export of Ukrainian food and in response to appeals, primarily from Turkish partners as a party to the agreement, we confirmed its extension for another two months, until July 17 inclusive, without any or changes," the ministry's website said in a statement.
It points to "five" systemic "tasks that must be solved as part of the implementation of the Russia-UN Memorandum and progress on which is still lacking" – this is reconnecting Russian Agricultural Bank to SWIFT; supply of spare parts; unblocking transport logistics and insurance; reanimation of the ammonia pipeline "Togliatti-Odessa" and the "unfreezing" of the assets of Russian companies".
"Unless these requirements are met, there is no question of any expansion of the Black Sea Initiative, and the agreement itself will be terminated after July 17," the Foreign Ministry added.
Russia, Ukraine, Turkiye and the UN reached an agreement on July 22, 2022 to provide a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships carrying food and fertilizer exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports. On March 18, 2023, Russia extended the deal for 60 days, until May 18.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative is an integral part of a package agreement. The second part - the Russia-UN memorandum, designed for three years – covers the aforementioned demands by Russia, which have not yead been combleted.