Russia Seeks Concessions

The humanitarian grain agreement that includes Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations will expire on Saturday. Negotiations took place over the weekend, but Russia’s deputy foreign minister said an extension is not yet in place. Russia wants unlimited access to the world market for its grain and fertilizer. There are no sanctions on Russian grain or fertilizer, but trade is shut down over access to insurance and financing. Russia also wants its state bank to again have access to a global financial platform. Ukrainian troops pushed Russia out of city of Kherson late last week. which  complicates the negotiations for the Black Sea Grain Initiative.