Russia withdraws from deal on Ukrainian grain exports

Russia announced on Saturday that it had suspended its participation in the agreement after a drone attack. Ukraine denounces a “false pretext”.

Source AFP

The Russian Ministry of Defense reacted to the Ukrainian drone attack.
© HANDOUT / Russian Defence Ministry / AFP

Published on 29/10/2022 at 5:10 p.m.
– Modified 29/10/2022 at 10:50 p.m.

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Lhe Russian authorities announced on Saturday October 29 the suspension of their participation in the agreement ensuring the continuation of Ukrainian grain exports, vital for the food supply of poor countries, after the drone attack which targeted ships in the morning Russians in Crimea. “In view of the terrorist act carried out by the kyiv regime with the participation of British experts against ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian ships involved in the security of grain corridors, Russia is suspending its participation in the implementation of the agreement on the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports,” the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Telegram.

The grain agreement, concluded in July under the aegis of the UN and Turkey, had allowed the export of several million tonnes of grain stuck in Ukrainian ports since the start of the conflict in February. This blockage had caused food prices to soar, raising fears of famine.

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A strongly criticized agreement

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ramped up criticism of the deal in recent weeks, pointing out that exports from Russia, another major grain producer, were suffering because of the sanctions. Moscow justified this suspension by a massive drone attack which on Saturday morning targeted military and civilian ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet stationed in the bay of Sevastopol, in annexed Crimea.

Shortly before the announcement of the suspension of the cereals agreement, the Russian Minister of Agriculture had once again criticized the text on television, accusing the EU countries of monopolizing Ukrainian exports which must return to the countries poor. These allegations had previously been denied by the coordination center located in Turkey.

“The grain agreement, unfortunately, not only did not solve the problems of the countries in need, but even aggravated them in a certain sense,” said Dmitry Patrushev, promising to deliver them free of charge up to to 500,000 tons of Russian grain.

A “false pretext”, according to Ukraine

Ukraine denounced the “false pretext” of the attack in Crimea used by Russia to justify the suspension of the agreement on grain exports, calling for pressure to ensure that Moscow “respects its obligations”. “Moscow is using a false pretext to block the grain corridor that provides food security for millions of people. I call on all states to demand that Russia end its hunger games and recommit to its obligations,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kouleba tweeted.

The United Nations has called for everything to be done to preserve the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports. “It is vital that all parties refrain from any action that would jeopardize the Black Sea Grains Agreement,” UN Secretary General Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement, stressing that this agreement had a “positive impact” on access to food for millions of people around the world.

Russia is using “food as a weapon,” the White House National Security Council spokeswoman blasted. “Russia is once again trying to use the war it started as a pretext to weaponize food, directly affecting countries in need and food prices across the world. world, and exacerbates already severe humanitarian crises and food insecurity,” Adrienne Watson said in a statement.

US President Joe Biden called Russia’s decision “scandalous”. “It’s just outrageous. There was no reason for them to do this,” he told reporters after voting early in the midterm elections in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware (east).

Turkey was not warned of the Russian withdrawal

“Turkey has not been officially notified” by Russia of its withdrawal from the international agreement on grain exports, of which it is one of the guarantors with the United Nations, a journalist told Agence France-Presse on Saturday. secure source. The agreement, signed on July 22 in Istanbul with Russia and Ukraine, has made it possible to export more than 9 million tonnes of cereals and agricultural products. It is supervised from a joint coordination center (JCC) also installed in the Turkish megalopolis.