Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova ruled out expanding the list of exported goods and increasing the number of ports as part of the grain deal. It is reported by RBC.
Earlier, Reuters, citing a source in the Ukrainian government, reported that Kyiv was ready to consider reopening the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline if the grain deal was extended to an additional number of Ukrainian ports.
“The Russian side has repeatedly stated the position to other stakeholders during expert meetings that expanding these two categories — the list of goods and increasing the number of ports — is out of the question,” Zakharova said, answering a journalist’s question about Reuters data.
Russia and Ukraine signed a grain deal separately with Turkey and the UN in July 2022. The agreement consists of two parts. The first guarantees the safe export of Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea, and the second guarantees the removal of restrictions on the access of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers to the world market.
The agreement has already been extended several times, most recently until May 18. Another extension was in doubt, as Russia has repeatedly stated that the second part of the deal is not being implemented. Nevertheless, on May 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced the extension of the grain deal for two months. The ministry urged to correct “distortions” in the execution of the deal as quickly as possible.
Source: Rosbalt
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