The Russian Foreign Ministry has outlined five specific conditions for ending the grain deal after July 17, signaling a clear policy stance and a roadmap for what would terminate the agreement. This declaration was published on the ministry’s official page, underscoring how state authorities frame the terms and the consequences if Moscow’s terms are not met. The list is precise and points to concrete actions that Moscow associates with a return to normalcy and stability in agricultural trade flows. [Attribution: Russian Foreign Ministry]
First, the restoration of Rosselkhozbank’s access to the SWIFT payment system is demanded. Second, it calls for the supply of spare parts necessary to maintain critical infrastructure and logistics. Third, the ministry insists on unblocking transport routes and insurance arrangements that enable ships, cargo, and freight to move without impediment. Fourth, it emphasizes the revival of the ammonia pipeline between Togliatti and Odessa, a key energy and agriculture linkage. Fifth, it requires the dissolution of assets held by Russian companies, signaling a broader economic dimension to any potential exit from the accord. [Attribution: Russian Foreign Ministry]
Earlier, the Ministry announced there had been no change in the extension of the grain agreement, keeping it in force for an additional two months until July 17. This extension aligned with Moscow’s signaling that the agreement would be revisited with fresh leverage and that concrete steps would influence the continuation of the deal. [Attribution: Russian Foreign Ministry]
The ministry also reaffirmed that Moscow’s core assessment of how the Istanbul-related agreements are being implemented remains unchanged. In a notable point, it highlighted that only the Black Sea initiative has moved forward to date, while ammonia exports have not yet begun. This distinction underscores the strategic and logistical gaps that Moscow highlights in evaluating the agreement’s performance. [Attribution: Russian Foreign Ministry]
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov remarked that the forthcoming two months would be decisive for the fate of the grain agreement. His statement signals a compelling deadline and a potential shift in policy depending on whether the specified conditions are addressed and whether the broader framework can deliver the expected outcomes for all parties involved. [Attribution: Russian Foreign Ministry]