Kremlin-Talks Continue On Grain Deal

Wires carrying comments from Kremlin spox Dmitri Peskov. Speaking on the prospect of a renewal of the Black Sea Grain Deal, Peskov says that 'communication on the subject is continuing', but that 'many questions still remain open regarding the Russian part of the deal'. Peskov states that the gov't has yet to take a decision on whether to renew the deal or not.

• The deadline for the deal to be extended is 18 May. Earlier reports from Politico that a 60-day extension had been reached seem to have been premature, with Russia, Turkey, and the UN all implying that talks are continuing.
• Reuters reports that the UN is continuing to push talks, with the final two ships leaving Ukrainian ports under the deal today (16 May). Russia has demanded that an ammonia pipeline running from Russia to a Ukrainian port on the Black Sea is reopened in order to continue the deal.
• The outcome of the talks could have a major impact on food prices in certain regions, with North Africa and the Middle East in particular heavily reliant on cheap Black Sea grain as part of their food supply chains.