Russia has warned that the Black Sea grain deal, which was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey to address a global food crisis, will not be extended past May 18 unless the West removes several obstacles to Russian grain and fertilizer exports. These obstacles include restrictions on payments, logistics, and insurance. Moscow has also demanded that its agricultural bank be reconnected to the SWIFT payment system and it be granted access to ports. Russia has accused UN staff in the Joint Coordination Center of refusing to draw up an inspection schedule for vessels carrying grain from Ukraine. Despite some progress, UN officials are continuing discussions as Russia remains critical of the initiative, which it believes is controlled by Western countries to serve commercial exports of Ukraine.