On April 13th, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that without progress in resolving the basic problems related to the grain deal across the Black Sea, there is no need to talk about any extension after the 18th of next May.
The ministry said in a statement, reported by TASS agency: “We reaffirm that no progress has been made in resolving five basic problems, which are reconnecting Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT system, resuming supplies of agricultural machinery, spare parts and maintenance services, and lifting restrictions imposed on insurance plus unblocking access to ports and restoring the operation of the ammonia pipeline, and unblocking foreign assets and accounts of Russian companies related to the production and transportation of food and fertilizers,”
The Foreign Ministry pointed out that the grain deal continues to serve exclusive commercial exports from Kiev for the benefit of Western countries only.