Peskov did not comment on the possible extension of the grain deal after May 18

The Kremlin refrained from commenting on the possibility of extending the grain deal after May 18. This was stated by the press secretary of the President Dmitry Peskov.

“We will not comment on anything. Work is underway. Our position is well known to both specialists and non-specialists. She is consistent. Our interests are recognized by everyone, the need to fulfill that part of the transaction that is connected with us is also recognized by everyone. So let’s wait for the outcome of these negotiations,” he said.

Another round of talks on a grain deal is due to take place in Istanbul this week. reported earlier at the UN. Prior to this round of consultations passed On May 5 in Moscow, he was devoted to the issue of fulfilling the terms of the second part of the grain deal between Russia and the UN. On the same day, a meeting of the delegations of Turkey, Russia and Ukraine was scheduled in Istanbul to discuss the grain deal, declared at the Turkish Ministry of Defense.

The grain deal was extended in mid-March until May 18. On April 25, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the situation around the agreement went into a dead end. The minister pointed to the unwillingness to remove obstacles to the export of Russian fertilizers, despite their shortage, and also to connect Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT. The Kremlin also called the prospects for extending the agreement “not very good.”

The grain deal was concluded on July 22, 2022 by representatives of Turkey and the UN on the one hand, and representatives of Russia and Ukraine on the other. Separate agreements were signed with Moscow and Kiev: the first was for the export of Ukrainian grain from three ports, including Odessa, Yuzhny and Chernomorsk, the second was for assistance in the export of Russian grain and fertilizers. Moscow has repeatedly noted that the second part of the deal is not being implemented.