Russia announced the suspension of its participation in the safe transit agreement for Ukrainian agricultural exports from three Black Sea ports, the Interfax agency reported, citing a Defense Ministry statement that denounced a “terrorist attack” on the Russian fleet in Crimea.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that a Navy minesweeper received minor damage from a “massive” drone attack on its Black Sea fleet in Crimea and accused the UK of aiding the attack without offering evidence. In the face of the above, the UK 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 for the external sale of Ukrainian grain as a pretext for an attack against its facilities in Crimea, specifically in Sevastopol.
Foreign Minister, Dimitro Kuleba, made the statement through his Twitter account, where he called on all states to demand Russia put an end to its “hunger games” and recommit to its obligations.
Recall that this agreement allowed nine million tons of grain to leave, which contributed to a significant decrease in the price of wheat. In addition, a renewal of the contract was expected in mid-November if neither of the two parties objected.
The United Nations (UN) has given its full support to the agreement and has stated 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 it has already made a statement on the matter through its spokesman Stéphane Dujarric: “All parties must refrain from any action that could jeopardize the Black Sea Grain Agreement”.
In previous days, the Secretary General of the Organization, Antonio Guterrés, had stated that if food and fertilizers do not arrive immediately, what will follow will be a dramatic effect on food production and costs, from a price crisis to a crisis of availability.