Russia suspends grain exports deal with Ukraine

Russia has said it is suspending participation in a UN-brokered deal to secure the export of agricultural produce from Ukrainian ports, the Reuters agency has reported.

Grain storage at a farm in Lukashivka village, Chernihiv region, Ukraine, 28 October 2022. The farm in Ukraine's Chernihiv region has been repaired after being destroyed in combat and was back in operation on Friday.

Photo: EPA/OLEG PETRASYUK

The announcement came after Moscow accused Ukraine of drone attacks on ships of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea. Also, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that British troops were involved in the attacks

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Russia was using "a false pretext to block the grain corridor which ensures food security for millions of people."

Russia’s hunger PR. Moscow promises free 500 thousand tons of grain (most likely stolen from Ukraine) to other countries over the next 4 months. But by ruining the grain corridor Russia blocks 2 million (!) tons of grain for Algeria, Yemen, Vietnam, Bangladesh & others RIGHT NOW.

— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) October 29, 2022

Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy at the European Commission Nabila Massrali said: "We (...) stress that all parties must refrain from any unilateral action that would imperil the Black Sea Grain Initiative which is a critical humanitarian effort that is clearly having a positive impact on access to food for millions of people around the worl," Reuters reported.

On Friday, a day before Russia’s announcement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for the extension the United Nations-backed deal, which "has significantly contributed to lower prices of wheat and other commodities."

The agreement struck between Russia and Ukraine is supposed to officially expire on November 19.

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.

(ał)

Source: Reuters