Russia announced the suspension of its participation in the safe transit agreement for Ukrainian agricultural exports from three Black Sea ports, the Interfax news agency reported, citing a Defense Ministry statement denouncing a “terrorist attack” on the Russian fleet in Crimea.
Russia’s defense ministry said a Navy minesweeper sustained minor damage from a “massive” drone attack on its Black Sea fleet in Crimea and accused the UK of aiding the attack without providing evidence. Faced with the above, Great Britain denied any involvement.
The Ukrainian government reacted, indicating that what happened was not a surprise and accused Russia of withdrawing from the initiative they had agreed on the external sale of Ukrainian wheat as a pretext for an attack against its facilities in Crimea, specifically in Sevastopol.
Foreign Minister Dimitro Kuleba made the statement via his Twitter account, where he called on all countries to ask Russia to end the “hunger games” and recommit to its obligations.
We recall that this agreement allowed the removal of nine million tons of grain, which contributed to a significant decrease in the price of wheat. Furthermore, a contract renewal was expected in mid-November if neither side objected.
The United Nations (UN) has given full support to the agreement and emphasized in its pronouncements the positive impact of the contract by guaranteeing food for many people and preventing a larger population from extreme poverty.
That is why she has already made a statement on the matter through her spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric: “All parties must refrain from any action that could endanger the Black Sea Grain Agreement.”
In the previous days, the Secretary-General of the Organization, Antonio Guterres, had stated that if food and fertilizers do not come immediately, what will follow will be a dramatic effect on food production and costs, from a price crisis to a crisis of availability .
