Russia refused today, July 17, 2023, to prolong the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grains after naval drones attacked a strategic bridge connecting its territory with the annexed Crimean peninsula.
“The Black Sea deal has de facto ended today,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov told reporters. “As soon as the Russia part (of the deal) is satisfied, the country will immediately return to the grain deal,” he added.
for months Moscow has complained about the deal sealed in July 2022 with the mediation of Turkey and the United Nations and which has allowed ease fears of a global food crisis. Has allowed export more than 32 million tons of Ukrainian grain and also includes lifting barriers to exporting Russian agricultural products and fertilizers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced last week that Moscow’s interests were being ignored. Moscow’s announcement comes hours after naval drones attacked the bridge linking Russia to the annexed Crimean peninsula, key to transporting supplies to Russian soldiers in Ukraine.
Crimean bridge explosion
The Kerch bridge, in Crimea, suffered an explosion on Monday, July 17, 2023, which led Russia not to further extend the agreement on the export of grains.
“Today’s attack on the Crimean bridge is a special operation by the SBU (Ukrainian special services) and the Navy,” a source from the Ukrainian security services told AFP.
The Russian authorities pointed out that a couple died in the attack and that their daughter was injured.
The bridge had already suffered damage in October 2022, in an attack that Moscow attributed to Ukraine. kyiv had denied being behind the attack.
Russian investigators inspect the Crimean bridge, damaged after an explosion they accuse Ukraine of. (AFP)
Local authorities reported that the Traffic had been stopped on the bridge and they urged tourists to stay in their accommodation.
They also encouraged Russians traveling to and from the peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014, to do so through the occupied Ukrainian territories.
Hours after the attack, Russian news agencies reported that the government refused to extend the grain agreement, whose main beneficiaries have been China, Spain and Türkiye.
“Russia today officially notified the Turkish and Ukrainian parties, as well as the UN Secretariat of its objection to the extension of the agreement,” the TASS agency reported, citing Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
European Union criticizes Russia for not extending agreement
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, condemned this Monday Russia’s decision not to renew the agreement on the export of Ukrainian cereals, a gesture that he described as “cynical”.
“I strongly condemn this cynical decision by Russia to end the Black Sea Grains Initiative, despite the efforts of the United Nations and Turkey. The EU strives to ensure food security for the most vulnerable populations “said the head of the executive arm of the EU.
For his part, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said that the non-renewal of the agreement “will endanger food security and the access of populations to their supplies of cereals and grains”.
The EU, Michel said, supported the efforts of the UN secretary general to get an extension of the agreement.
With information from AFP
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