Putin claims no Russian conditions for extending grain deal met
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Russian dictator Vladimir Putin named several conditions for extending the Black Sea Grain Initiative, claiming that none of them have been met, the Interfax news agency reported on July 13.
Russia's demands focus on logistics, insurance, and movement of money when paying for Russian products, Putin said.
In particular, the dictator named reconnecting the Russian Agricultural Bank to the international SWIFT payment system among the requirements.
The Kremlin has reportedly not made a decision yet on the prolongation of the deal but considers rejoining once the conditions are met.
"We can suspend our participation in this deal. If everyone once again says that all the promises given to us will be fulfilled, let them fulfill this promise. We will immediately join this deal," Putin said.
The European Union cut the bank from the payment system on June 14 under its sanctions regime over the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The deal has been extended several times since then, currently set to expire on July 18.
Russia has repeatedly threatened to terminate the deal while sabotaging and delaying the inspections of ships carrying Ukrainian food products under the initiative.
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