An informed source said that the grain deal, which ends on May 18, will be extended for another 60 days, indicating that a decision on this matter may be announced for the first time by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
On Friday, the TASS news agency quoted a source who said he was familiar with the grain deal negotiation process: “I think that the deal will be extended by 60 days, but Russia may agree to this for the last time. The decision to extend “as usual” may be announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart (Vladimir Putin)”, it is likely that the deal will happen “today or tomorrow”.
At the same time, the source called the possibility of extending the deal “a gesture from Russia”, hoping to take into account its requirements, stipulated in the Istanbul Memorandum of July 22.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Vershinin said after the talks of the delegations of Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN in Istanbul on May 10-11 in an interview with journalists that the Russian part of the agreements would stop if Moscow does not receive guarantees that its requirements will be met by 18 May.
Moscow’s conditions relate to the export of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers, the reconnection of the Russian Agrarian Bank to the SWIFT system, and a number of other issues.
Source: TASS