“We urge Russia to renew the UN grain deal brokered by Turkey and ensure the continued supply of food to those who needed it most,” Stoltenberg said at a joint press conference with Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca on Wednesday.
Stoltenberg's words were a reference to a video address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said that Russia was blocking 175 ships expected to leave Ukrainian ports as part of the deal.
The grain-and-fertiliser export deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey on July 22. It paved the way for the resumption of Ukraine’s exports for the first time since the Russian invasion blocked shipping through the Black Sea in February.
Under the agreement, Moscow committed not to attack ships exporting grain from the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi.
However, just a day after the deal was signed, Russia hit Odesa with missiles and struck port infrastructure, according to news reports at the time.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP