The Russian Foreign Ministry has announced that there are no grounds to extend the grain deal, which expires on July 17.
According to the ministry, Russia is making the necessary efforts to ensure that all vessels that are parties to the agreement can leave the Black Sea by that date.
In July 2022, Ukraine and Russia signed an agreement with Turkey and the UN to export Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports, primarily to developing countries.
However, last fall, Russia already suspended the grain agreement with Ukraine indefinitely, citing the attack on Sevastopol as a reason, but then extended it.
Now, on the eve of the next extension of the agreement, Russian officials have also stated their unwillingness to extend it – in late June, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said so.
Background. On Monday, the Financial Times, citing its sources, reported that in order to preserve the grain deal, the EU is considering connecting a subsidiary of "of Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT, despite the fact that this bank is owned by the Russian state.