Grain Deal At Risk As Russia Claims Ammonia Pipeline Damaged

State-run RIA reportingthat the Russian Defence Ministry has made claims that Ukrainian saboteurs have blown up a section of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia fertiliser pipeline in the Kharkiv region. If confirmed this would come as a blow to the prospect of an extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

• Earlier today reportsstated that talks on extending the Black Sea Grain Initiative - which provides for the export of grain and fertiliser from Russian and Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea - would resume on Friday 9 June.
• Russia has raised the issue of the pipeline, arguing that its inoperative state since the start of the invasion invalidates the deal, due to expire on 17 July.
• More comprehensive damage to the pipeline could be used as Russia as an excuse to pull the plug on the deal, risking global grain supplies and food price inflation in Europe and MENA.