Official: Russia thinks July 18 to be final day for grain deal

MOSCOW, Jun 20 (PRIME) -- Russia believes that July 18 would become the final day for the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin told reporters on Tuesday.

When asked about whether the ministry would have a new round of face-to-face consultations with the U.N. on the deal, he said that it was possible.

“We continue communications, working communications as well. But we will do what we’ve said we’ll do. We are working toward July 18 becoming the deadline for conclusion of the agreements that are not being fulfilled,” he said.

Russia is maintaining its demand to unblock the Togliatti–Odessa ammonia pipeline as part of the deal even through it is impossible to re-launch the pipeline fast after Ukraine had bombed it, he said.

When asked whether the U.N. understands that even if Russia disagrees with prolongation of the grain deal, the Russia–U.N. memorandum on unblocking of Russian grain and fertilizer exports will continue working, he said, “We leave this question for consideration of the U.N. side.”

“This is about two linked but still separate agreements,” he said.

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