MOSCOW, RUSSIA — Russia says that its continued support for the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which facilitates the movement of grain out of Ukraine, is in doubt unless economic sanctions that it says are impeding its grain and fertilizer exports are removed.

The Ukraine grain Black Sea export deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022 to help alleviate a global food crisis worsened by Russia’s invasion and blockade of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, which disrupted exports from two of the world’s leading grain suppliers. The Black Sea Grain Initiative recently was extended 60 days to May 18.

“Without progress on solving five systemic problems ... there is no need to talk about the further extension of the Black Sea initiative after May 18,” the Russian foreign ministry said, Reuters reported. “We note that, despite all the high-sounding statements about global food security and assistance to countries in need, the Black Sea initiative both served and continues to serve exclusively commercial exports of Kyiv in the interests of Western countries.”

As part of the initiative negotiations, a separate three-year agreement also was struck in July in which the United Nations agreed to help Russia with its food and fertilizer exports. Russia said it considers the agreements to be tied together.

Before the war, Russia and Ukraine combined for about 30% of the world’s wheat export market. Ukraine is also a major exporter of corn and sunflower oil. At the time of the initiative’s extension, the UN noted that since its initial signing, nearly 25 million tonnes of grains and foodstuffs had been moved to 45 countries, and it has been credited with helping to calm global food prices.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said “discussions, communications are still going on with the parties” and that UN officials were determined to ensure the implementation of both deals.

Western countries have imposed tough sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Its food and fertilizer exports are not sanctioned, but Russia said restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance are a barrier to shipments.

The foreign ministry said Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) must be reconnected to the SWIFT payment system, that supplies of agricultural machinery and parts needed to be resumed and that restrictions on insurance and reinsurance needed to be lifted.