A deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain could start winding down next week after Russia said it will not approve any new vessels unless their operators guarantee the transits will be done by May 18 - "the expected date of ... closure."
Russia has strongly signaled that it will not allow the Ukraine Black Sea export deal - agreed in July last year - to continue beyond May 18 because a list of demands to facilitate its own grain and fertilizer exports has not been met.
