With just over a week to go before a key deal under which Ukraine is able to export grain through some of its Black Sea ports expires, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan that the West has not met the demands made by Moscow to agree to its renewal.

Mr. Lavrov recalled during his telephone conversation with Mr. Fidan that the Russian government was asking for the lifting of measures, in particular sanctions in the banking sector, that prevent the export of Russian agricultural products, mainly grain and fertilizers.

The agreement, which was concluded in the summer of 2022 with the mediation of the UN and Turkey, expires on Monday, July 17.

The deal ended the Russian Navy’s months-long blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports. As a result, Ukraine and Russia, two of the main grain exporters on a global scale, resumed their exports, albeit on a more limited scale, and prevented the outbreak of crises in various countries of the world, especially in Africa.

The two foreign ministers also discussed the controversial return to Ukraine of members of the Azov battalion, who had been released by Russia on the condition that they would not return to their homeland and not take part in hostilities again, according to Russian diplomacy.

According to Russian sources, the ministers emphasized the need to continue close bilateral cooperation, despite anger in Moscow over the return to Ukraine of officers of the Azov battalion. The relationship between the two sides should not be disturbed but strengthened, they agreed, always according to these sources.

At the same time, Mr. Lavrov pointed out to Mr. Fidan that the West continues its “disastrous race to deliver military equipment to the Kiev regime.”