MFA: Russia may withdraw from “grain deal”

The Russian Foreign Ministry has said that Russia will suspend participation in the “grain deal” on May 18, 2023 if there is no progress in the implementation of the Russian part of this agreement.

“A further decision of extending the initiative will depend on progress in the implementation of the following conditions in the context of the implementation of the Russia-UN Memorandum. Among these conditions are reconnection of Russian Agricultural Bank to SWIFT; resumption of supplies of agricultural machinery, spare parts and service; the abolition of restrictions on insurance and reinsurance, plus the lifting of the ban on entering the ports; restoration of the work of the "Togliatti-Odessa" ammonia pipeline; unblocking foreign assets and accounts of Russian companies related to the production and transportation of food and fertilisers," the message published on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry says, Interfax reports.

The Russian foreign ministry noted that "without progress in fulfilling these requirements, which are not new and should have been resolved within the Russia-UN Memorandum, our participation in the Black Sea Initiative will be suspended".