Photo credit: kremlin.ru
Russia has suspended the grain deal, RIA Novosti reports. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov recalled that the term of the Black Sea agreements ends on Monday, July, 17. They are not in force anymore, he said. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that this means the withdrawal of guarantees for the safety of navigation, the curtailment of the maritime humanitarian corridor, the restoration of the regime of a temporarily dangerous area in the northwestern Black Sea and the disbandment of the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul. Without the participation of Russia, the Black Sea Initiative ceases to exist from July, 18, the ministry added.
None of the terms of the grain deal, which concerned Russia, was fulfilled, the Kremlin stressed.
As soon as this situation changes, the implementation of the Black Sea agreements will resume, Peskov assured.
The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that Moscow had already sent a notification about this to the Turkish and Ukrainian authorities, as well as to the UN.
Earlier, Vladimir Putin said that the grain deal was aimed at helping starving countries with food. This goal was never reached, he added. There are still obstacles to the export of Russian food and fertilizers.
During the period of the agreement, more than 32 million tons of grain were exported from Ukrainian territory. Most of it - about 40% - ended up in European countries. About a quarter was delivered to China, 10% - to Turkey. The poorest countries accounted for a minimum - only 2,5%.
The grain is sent for commercial purposes, although the head of the UN, António Guterres, explained his initiative by the need to help the peoples of the poorest countries.
Russkiy Mir
