WASHINGTON. July 17 (Interfax) - Washington is prepared for any scenario regarding the future of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which expires on July 17, United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in an interview on CBS on Sunday.
"We are prepared for any scenario and we are working closely with Ukrainians on that," Sullivan said when asked by the program's host whether the deal would be extended.
Sullivan said he had no information regarding the deal's future.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative, or the grain deal, was signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022. The United Nations, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine signed two documents to open a grain corridor from three Ukrainian ports (Chernomorsk, Odessa and Yuzhny) and to lift restrictions on Russian food and fertilizer exports.
The initiative was extended in November 2022 for 120 days until March, and then twice more by two months. It currently remains valid until July 17.