On Monday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said that Moscow sees no prospects for extending the grain deal.
"Yes, we are aware [of Russia's position]. The situation around the initiative is difficult, we are aware of problems, continue to work together with the UN to solve them," the source said.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, in turn, said on Monday that the United Nations continues "constant discussions" over the Black Sea Grain Deal with its partners, including Russia and Ukraine.
"The discussions are going on, we keep constant discussions with our partners within the framework of the JCC [Joint Coordination Center], including the Russian Federation and Ukraine," Dujarric told reporters when asked to comment on the statement of Russian Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin that Moscow sees no prospects for extending the grain deal.
Dujarric pointed out that the grain initiative is critical to address a world food crisis and hunger. He also underscored the importance of the memorandum of understanding the UN signed with Russia on fertilizers.
In mid-May, the grain deal was extended until July 17 without any changes. The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned that if the problematic issues with the deal, including Moscow's demand to reconnect the Russian Agricultural Bank to the SWIFT system and relaunch the Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline, are not addressed within two months, the deal will be terminated after July 17.