MOSCOW. July 17 (Interfax) - Implementation of the Black Sea grain deal was stopped on Monday, and Russia will immediately resume it as soon as its conditions under the deal are met, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.
"The Black Sea agreements effectively ceased functioning today. As the Russian president said earlier, the July 17 deadline is expiring, and unfortunately, the part of these Black Sea agreements concerning Russia has still not been implemented, and therefore, its functioning is terminated. As soon as the Russian part of the agreements is fulfilled, the Russian side will immediately [begin] implementing the deal [again]. This is the de facto situation," Peskov told journalists when asked whether any statements on the grain deal, which expires on July 17, would be made on Monday.
Asked to clarify whether his words could be regarded as an official statement that the grain deal has been terminated, Peskov repeated, "It has ceased [functioning]. The grain deal has ceased. As soon as the Russian part is implemented, Russia will immediately return to the deal's implementation."