KYIV, UKRAINE — Ukraine said Russia has effectively stopped the Black Sea grain deal by refusing to register incoming vessels and carry out inspections on May 7 and 8, Reuters reported.

The deal expires on May 18 and Russia has threatened to quit the agreement citing obstacles for its own grain and fertilizer exports. The agreement was first brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July after Russia’s invasion blocked Black Sea ports, contributing to a global food crisis.

The United Nations said no ships were inspected on May 7 or 8, and Ukraine’s reconstruction ministry said this contradicts the deal.

It said 90 ships, including 62 vessels for loading, were waiting in Turkey’s territorial waters for approval to go to Ukrainian ports, Reuters reported.

Ukraine had been putting forward daily a list of ships to be authorized by the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul, which implements the deal. Once approved, ships are inspected by JCC officials near Turkey before traveling to a Ukrainian Black Sea port via a maritime humanitarian corridor to collect their cargo and return to Turkish waters for a final inspection.

“The JCC conducted no inspections yesterday and today,” the UN said on Monday, adding that the UN and Turkey were “working closely with all sides with the aim to facilitate movements and inspections of inbound and outbound vessels ... while discussions for the future of the Initiative continue.”

Senior officials are due to meet in Istanbul later this week for talks. Russia has said it will not extend the pact beyond May 18 unless a list of demands is met to remove obstacles to its own grain and fertilizer exports.

Since implementation of the deal, nearly 30 million tonnes of grain and foodstuffs has been exported from Ukraine. This includes 600,000 tonnes of grain in World Food Program vessels for aid operations in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Yemen.