Russia says there are no talks on any alternative to lapsed grain deal

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said on Friday that Moscow was ready to explore options on grain exports, but that there were no current talks on an alternative to the Black Sea grain deal.

The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July, aimed to help prevent a global food crisis by allowing grain blocked by the conflict in Ukraine to be safely exported from Black Sea ports.

Russia announced it was withdrawing from the deal on Monday.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Caleb Davis; Editing by Andrew Osborn)