Russia is getting serious and is now effectively ending the Black Sea Grains Agreement. Moscow announced that the contract would not be renewed after it expired at midnight on Monday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov justified the move by saying Russia’s demands for an easing of Western economic sanctions over the war in Ukraine had not been met.
Once all Russian demands for the export of its own grain are met, Moscow will return to the agreement, Peskov said. A spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry revealed that Turkey and Ukraine have already been informed of the decision.
Attack on the Crimean bridge for no reason
Peskov denied that the attack by Ukrainian surface drones on the Crimean Bridge on Monday was the reason for the decision. “These are two unrelated events. You know that even before the terrorist attack, President Putin’s position was expressed,” he said on Monday. Russian President Vladimir Putin said there was no reason to renew the agreement.
Austria tried to mediate
On Monday, Austria’s foreign ministry called on Russia to renew the grain deal that was about to expire.
“We urge Russia to agree to an extension of the Black Sea Grains Initiative,” the State Department said on Twitter. An extension of the agreement is crucial for global food security. The post was tagged “FoodIsNotAWeapon” (food is not a weapon).
Granary of Europe
Now the transport of millions of tons of Ukrainian grain, mainly maize and wheat, by sea has come to a standstill. Ukraine and Russia are major suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other foodstuffs to countries in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia. Before the outbreak of war in February 2022, they supplied almost a quarter of the world’s grain exports. Russia was also the world’s largest fertilizer exporter.
In 2022, despite the war, partly thanks to the grain deal, Ukraine was able to export more than 38 million tons of grain, representing a turnover of more than eight billion euros. The revenues are important for the national budget of the country, which is defending itself against the Russian offensive war. Almost 75 percent of exports went abroad via the ports on the Black Sea and the Danube. Compared to 2021, exports by sea fell by about 23 percent.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
