UN Continues Efforts to Salvage Black Sea Grain Deal.

The UN will continue efforts to extend the Black Sea grain initiative, which allows for the safe export of Ukrainian grain, despite Russia threatening to quit the pact on May 18 due to obstacles to its own grain and fertilizer exports. The UN and Turkey brokered the agreement in July 2022 to tackle a global food crisis, but Russia has issued a list of demands regarding its own agricultural exports that it wants met before agreeing to an extension of the deal. The final two ships are due to leave Ukrainian ports on Tuesday under the Black Sea deal.