Russian Foreign Ministry sees no grounds for extending grain deal

MOSCOW. July 4 (Interfax) - Moscow sees no grounds for extending the grain deal, which will expire on July 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

"The situation around normalizing Russian food and fertilizer supplies to world markets, which is stipulated by the Russia-United Nations Memorandum, has continued to deteriorate," the Foreign Ministry said.

"Under these conditions, it is clear that there are no grounds for a further extension of the Black Sea Initiative, which expires on July 17," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its website.

"At the same time, the Russian side continues to take a conscientious and responsible approach to its obligations as a party to the agreement, making the necessary efforts in strict compliance with the rules of procedure, so that all the vessels participating in it [the Black Sea Grain Initiative] can successfully complete their mission and leave the Black Sea before it expires," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"The Russia-UN Memorandum is known to be valid for three years, and does not require any special decisions on its extension," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.