Russia will only agree to extend a deal under which Ukraine is able to export grain from its Black Sea ports if doing so is in Moscow’s interests, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a March 1 statement. In talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed that “continuing the…agreement is possible only if the interests of Russian agricultural and fertilizer producers…are taken into account,” the statement said. The agreement is set to expire on March 18. Moscow says payment, insurance, and other restrictions are “barriers” to exporting its products. To read the original story by Reuters, click here.
