Kremlin: No Final Decision Taken On Grain Deal

Comments from the Kremlin hitting wires stating a final decision hasn't been taking on extending the Black Sea grain deal, set to expire on July 17, but repeating that, "there are few grounds for extending the deal."

• The Kremlin says a decision will come "in a timely manner," but stresses that "parts of the deal that concern Russia are still not fulfilled." The comments are likely to add fuel to Western accusations that Russia plays "brinksmanship" with global food supplies to press for sanctions relief.
• The Kremlin declines to comment on a Chinese decision to restrict the export of critical minerals, gallium and germanium, seen in the west as a retaliatory response to export controls on high-tech components.
• The Kremlin declines to confirm on an FT report claiming that Chinese President Xi "personally warned" President Putin against nuclear rhetoric.
• The Kremlin also escalates a dispute with Ukraine over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant saying the, "situation there is tense," and the, "threat of sabotage [from Ukraine] is great."
• Kyiv and Moscow have traded accusations of sabotage in the past 24 hours with some analysts warning that Russia may preparing a "false flag" attack on the Zaporizhzhia facility.