Russia suspends UN-Turkey brokered grain export agreement with Ukraine. The boycott is said to be in response to Ukrainian attacks on ships of the Black Sea Fleet.
Russia’s Tass agency reported on Saturday, citing the Defense Ministry in Moscow, that the attacks on Russian ships in the Black Sea had been cited as the reason. The safety of the corridor set up for grain transport can no longer be guaranteed.
In an initial response, the Ukrainian government accused Russia of extortion. Russia plans attacks on its own facilities.
The Russian ministry previously accused Britain of being involved in both the attacks on the Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol on Saturday and the Nord Stream explosions in late September. This was indignantly rejected by London.
“To distract from its disastrous approach to the illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Defense is resorting to spreading false claims of epic proportions,” the British Ministry of Defense said. “This made-up story says more about disputes within the Russian government than it does about the West. The British navy does not have the ability to blow up the gas pipelines,” said former Royal Navy admiral Chris Parry.
Ukraine has repeatedly stated that it wants to retake Crimea, which Russia has occupied since 2014. The peninsular city of Sevastopol is important to Moscow as the base of the Black Sea Fleet. The peninsula has also been rocked repeatedly by explosions, for which Russia blames Ukraine.
Threatened to leave for weeks
Russia has been threatening for weeks with a possible halt to the grain deal that has brought Ukrainian food back onto the world market since the summer. In recent days, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has complained that Russia is blocking the passage of ships laden with grain. He emphasized the importance of these shipments in the fight against hunger in the world.
While the war continues to hamper exports, Zelenskyy recently said Ukraine has exported nearly eight million tons of food by sea since the Grains Agreement came into effect. 60 percent of the amount went to Africa and Asia.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
