Black Sea Grain Deal Talks Take Place 9 June In Geneva-RIA

Russia's state-run RIA reporting that according to its sources, talks on the Black Sea Grain Initiative will take place this Friday 9 June in Geneva. The current agreement that sees Russia and Ukraine enabled to export grain and fertilisers from Black Sea ports under the eye of the UN and Turkey is due to expire on 17 July. As was the case with the previous deadline in May, Russia has voiced negative prospects for an extension (although in that case Moscow did eventually agree to continue with the deal).

• One of the major sticking points is an ammonia fertiliser pipeline from Togliatti in Russia to the port of Pivdennyi in Ukraine. The pipeline has been shut down since the start of the invasion. Russia claims Ukraine is hindering the deal by not restarting the pipeline. Ukraine argues that it would take 30 days to restart the pipeline, and that the Grain Initiative dictates rules on the export of fertiliser, not its transit across Russia and Ukraine.
• On 5 June, Russian state-run TASS reportedthat the Russian Foreign Ministry said it saw 'no prospect' of the deal being extended further.
• The continuation of the deal is important for maintaining consistent food supplies to global markets, most notably the MENA region. Moreover, without Black Sea grain a reduction in global supply will see food prices pushed up impacting on the broader inflation outlook across Europe.