The current export restrictions on Russian grain under the bloc of agreements in the Black Sea have not been lifted up to this moment. This stance was confirmed by Dmitry Patrushev, the Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation.
He pointed to persistent hurdles tied to mutual settlement, freight arrangements, and ship insurance, noting that these factors continue to limit the flow of grain under the deal. Patrushev spoke at a plenary session of the All-Russian Grain Forum, underscoring that the country has not yet found solutions within the framework of the agreement to overcome these constraints.
On May 18, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced a two month extension of the grain deal through July 17, without any alterations to its terms. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated that the upcoming two months of the Black Sea initiative would be decisive for its future trajectory and continued operation.
The Foreign Ministry detailed five conditions that would trigger termination of the deal after July 17. The ministry outlined the need to reconnect Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT system, unblock transport logistics and insurance, supply essential spare parts, restart the ammonia pipeline from Togliatti to Odessa, and unwind the assets of Russian companies to enable a broader expansion of the Black Sea initiative. These points reflect a clear stance on what factors could halt the agreement if not addressed, signaling a potential turning point for grain exports from Russia and for regional food security considerations.