Black Sea Grain Initiative not to be extended after May 18 unless progress is made in solving 5 'systemic' problems - Russian Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW. April 13 (Interfax) - The grain deal will not be extended after May 18 unless progress is made in solving five 'systemic' problems, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"We reaffirm our stance, according to which the further extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative after May 18 is out of question unless progress is made in solving five 'systemic' problems (reconnecting Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT, resuming delivery of agricultural equipment, spare parts and their maintenance, lifting insurance and reinsurance restrictions and the ban on port calls, resuming operation of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline, and unblocking foreign assets and accounts of Russian food and fertilizer manufacturers and transporters)," the ministry said in a statement on its website on Thursday.