The Russian Foreign Ministry said that without progress in resolving the main problems associated with the grain deal, there is no need to talk about any extension of the grain deal after May 18.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement: “We reaffirm our position on the lack of progress in resolving the five main problems (namely: the reunification of Rosselkhozbank with the SWIFT system, the resumption of supplies of agricultural equipment, spare parts and services, the lifting of restrictions on insurance, as well as the lifting of the ban on access to ports, the restoration of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline, the unfreezing of foreign assets and accounts of Russian companies related to the production and transportation of food and fertilizers) is There is no need to talk about further extension of the Black Sea Initiative after May 18.
The Foreign Ministry noted that the grain deal continues to serve as an exclusive commercial export from Kyiv in favor of Western countries.
The Russian Foreign Minister recently discussed a grain deal with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, noting that the first part of the deal is being implemented, since the lion’s share of this export goes to Europe, where grain producers in the European Union are engaged. with this. In addition, the Black Sea initiative for the transfer of Ukrainian grain turned out to meet the requirements of Western countries, while poor countries in need of this grain receive only 3%.
Source: TASS