EU CALLS ON RUSSIA TO REVERSE SUSPENSION OF GRAIN DEAL

Sun 30 October 2022:

On Sunday, the European Union pleaded with Russia to reconsider its decision to withdraw from a crucial grain export agreement with Ukraine.

“Russia’s decision to suspend participation in the Black Sea deal puts at risks the main export route of much needed grain and fertilisers to address the global food crisis caused by its war against Ukraine,” the bloc’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell tweeted. “The EU urges Russia to revert its decision.”

Russia’s decision to suspend participation in the Black Sea deal puts at risks the main export route of much needed grain and fertilisers to address the global food crisis caused by its war against Ukraine.

The EU urges Russia to revert its decision.

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) October 30, 2022

This was declared a day earlier by the Russian Defense Ministry in response to suspected attacks on its Black Sea fleet.

According to a statement from the ministry, the decision was made “in the light of the recent events connected to the terrorist attacks against ships of the Black Sea Fleet.”

On July 22, an agreement was made in Istanbul by Turkey, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine to restore grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports that had been suspended since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February. To manage the supplies, a Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul has been established with representatives from the 3 countries and the UN.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken added in the statement that the deal had been critical for low- and middle-income countries.

Blinken accused Moscow of once again weaponizing food in the war it started with Ukraine, further noting that “any act by Russia to disrupt these critical grain exports is essentially a statement that people and families around the world should pay more for food or go hungry.”

Exchange of prisoners of war

Russia-Ukraine exchange of prisoners of war on Saturday: officials in Moscow and Kyiv said both sides had returned about 50 people each.

Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate reported the return of 52 detainees, among them soldiers, sailors, border guards, national guard members and doctors.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that since March, Russia had freed a total of 1,031 prisoners.

Reuters reported the Ukrainian president said in a video address:

We remember all those who are held captive in Russia and on occupied territory and will do everything to ensure that each and every one is returned.

Russia’s defence ministry said Ukraine handed over 50 prisoners of war after talks.

Earlier on Saturday, Denis Pushilin, the Moscow-backed head of the Donetsk region – one of four Ukraine regions that Russia proclaimed as its territory last month – also said a prisoner swap with Ukraine was taking place.

He said 50 people from each side were being exchanged.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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