Russia said on Saturday it was suspending its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July to allow the export of grain and fertilisers from Ukraine.
The Polish foreign ministry said in a tweet on Sunday that "Russia's decision to halt the Black Sea Grain Initiative" was further "proof that Moscow is not willing to uphold any international agreements."
The tweet added: "Poland, together with its EU partners, stands ready to work further to help Ukraine and those in need to transport essential goods."
The Ukrainian ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Zvarych, told the media that "the world should force Russia to resume the grain corridor to prevent destabilization and uncontrolled migration," Polish state news agency PAP reported.
World leaders, including US President Joe Biden, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, have called on Russia to rejoin the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Biden called Russia’s decision to pull out of the grain deal "purely outrageous," while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Moscow of "weaponising food," the Reuters news agency reported.
Blinken said in a tweet that the Black Sea Grain Initiative "has brought more than 9 million metric tons of food from Ukraine and lowered global food prices."
He added: "We urge all parties to uphold this tremendously successful Initiative."
The UN's Guterres said he was "deeply concerned" over Russia’s decision to suspend its involvement in the Black Sea grain deal.
The EU's Borrell said on Twitter that "Russia’s decision to suspend its participation in the Black Sea deal puts at risk the main export route of much needed grain and fertilisers to address the global food crisis caused by its war against Ukraine."
He urged Russia "to revert its decision."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an evening address on Friday that "Russia began deliberately aggravating the food crisis back in September, when it blocked the movement of ships with our food."
Since last month "176 vessels have accumulated in the grain corridor," which is "an absolutely transparent intention of Russia to return the threat of large-scale famine to Africa and Asia," according to Zelensky.
Russia’s announcement came a day after the UN's Guterres appealed for an extension in the agreement, which was scheduled 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.
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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters