Russia suspends Ukrainian grain export deal, following attack on Sevastopol
Russia has suspended its participation in UN-brokered agreement to export grain for Ukraine, following drone attacks on Sevastopol in Crimea on Saturday and Moscow blamed on Kyiv, Minister of Defence said on Saturday.
The attack involved British specialists and struck ships ensuring the security of the grain corridor, Moscow claimed, while Ukraine and Britain denied Russia’s allegations.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted that Moscow was using false pretexts to block grain exports, adding “I call on all states to demand Russia to stop its hunger games and recommit to its obligations.”
We have warned of Russia’s plans to ruin the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Now Moscow uses a false pretext to block the grain corridor which ensures food security for millions of people. I call on all states to demand Russia to stop its hunger games and recommit to its obligations.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) October 29, 2022
Russian Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev said earlier on Saturday that Moscow was ready to supply up to 500,000 tons of grain to poor countries in the next four months for free, with assistance from Turkey, and supplant supplies of Ukrainian grains.
In July, Ukraine and Russia agreed to a deal that allowed a resumption of vital grain exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, a major diplomatic breakthrough aimed at easing the war-sparked global food crisis.
