Mon 17 July 2023:
Russia has halted its participation in the Black Sea grain deal.
The United Nations and Turkey-brokered pact, which helped alleviate a global food crisis amid several extensions, was due to expire on Monday. Russia had been saying for months that conditions for its extension had not been fulfilled.
“In fact, the Black Sea agreements ceased to be valid today,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
“Unfortunately, the part of these Black Sea agreements concerning Russia has not been implemented so far, so its effect is terminated,” he added.
Russian state news agency RIA Novosti quoted foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova as saying that Moscow had notified Ukraine, Turkey and the UN about its decision on the deal.
Kremlin spokesperson Dimitry Peskov tells reporters in Moscow that there was no link between an overnight attack on the Crimean Bridge and Russia’s decision to suspend its participation in the Black Sea grain deal, which intended to allow Ukraine to export grain safely from its Black Sea ports.
Peskov highlighted that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s position on the deal had been known before the attack.
Russia says it will consider rejoining grain deal when it sees ‘results’, not ‘promises’
Russia says it would consider rejoining the Black Sea grain export deal if it sees “concrete results” but so far its demands have not been met.
The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that despite United Nations efforts to prolong the deal, obstacles to Russian food and fertiliser exports remained.
“Only upon receipt of concrete results and not promises and assurances will Russia be ready to consider restoring the deal,” it said
UN chief ‘deeply regrets’ Russia’s decision to end Black Sea grain deal
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says he “deeply regrets” Russia’s decision to end the Black Sea grain deal, including the withdrawal of Russian security guarantees of navigation in the north-west part of the Black Sea.
The UN chief said he was disappointed Putin ignored his proposal to extend the agreement and the UN would still try to facilitate “unimpeded access to global markets of food and fertilizers from Russia and Ukraine”.
Earlier, China’s envoy to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, also expressed hope that all parties involved could find a way forward as he specifically mentioned that Russia had concerns.
“We still hope that, you know, by accommodating the concerns of all parties … then we can find a package solution,” Zhang told reporters.
Russia’s grain deal suspension will ‘harm millions’: White House
The White House says Russia’s suspension of the Black Sea grain deal, which has allowed the export of grain from Ukraine, “will worsen food security and harm millions.”
“We urge the Government of Russia to immediately reverse its decision,” White House National Security Council spokesperson Adam Hodge said in a statement.
Turkish, Russian foreign ministers to discuss grain deal, Erdogan says
The Turkish and Russian foreign ministers will discuss the Black Sea grain deal on Monday, according to Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“I hope that with this discussion, we can make some progress and continue on our way without a pause,” Erdogan told reporters in Turkey, shortly after Moscow said it was halted its participation in the deal.
Russian grain market to feel ‘positive effect’ from deal suspension: TASS
Russia’s decision to suspend its participation in the Black Sea grain deal will have a “positive effect” on the country’s domestic grain market, according to Russian state news agency TASS.
The report said that according to the Russian Grain Union, the deal had brought “only harm”.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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