Moscow sees no grounds to extend grain deal beyond its expiry date

Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that there are no grounds for prolonging the grain deal, which expires on July 17, given the current position of the West and the UN's silence.

The UN leadership is silent on two "inconvenient" subjects for the organization: the undermining of the ammonia pipeline between Tolyatti and Odessa and the gratuitous supply of Russian mineral fertilizers to the poorest countries, TASS quotes the ministry as saying in a statement.

The statement said the West has publicly stated that there can be no relaxation of the anti-Russian sanctions, including for food and fertilizers.

"Under these circumstances, it is clear that there are no grounds for further continuation of the Black Sea initiative, which expires on 17 July," the diplomatic office pointed out.

The ministry pointed out that the UN leadership is silent on two subjects that are “inconvenient” for the organization: the undermining of the Tolyatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline and the gratuitous supply of Russian mineral fertilizers to the poorest countries.

At the same time, the West publicly declares that there can be no easing in the framework of anti-Russian sanctions, including for food and fertilizers, the ministry stressed.

"Under these conditions, it is obvious that there are no grounds for further continuation of the Black Sea initiative, which expires on July 17," the diplomatic office said.

The ministry also noted that Moscow "continues to approach its commitments as a party to the agreement in good faith and responsibility, making the necessary efforts in strict compliance with the rules of procedure to ensure that all participating vessels are able to successfully complete their mission and leave the Black Sea before its term expires".

"The Russia-UN Memorandum is known to last for three years and does not require any special decisions on extension," it added.

The ministry also noted another surge of propaganda by Western countries, Kyiv, and the UN Secretariat in connection with the imminent expiry of the deal.

"One year after the signing of the Istanbul agreements, no one has any more illusions or doubts about the humanitarian orientation of the Black Sea initiative, nor about the prospects of implementing the Russia-UN memorandum on the normalization of domestic exports of agricultural products and fertilizers. Nevertheless, arguments continue to be used, the essence of which is that without Ukrainian fodder corn, the world would starve to death and that the illegal unilateral sanctions imposed by Westerners against Russia do not apply to food and fertilizers," the report said.