Russia leaves the ‘grain pact’ after denouncing a ‘massive’ attack by Ukraine on its fleet in the Black Sea

Russia has unilaterally suspended its participation in the grain export agreement negotiated by the UN to ship agricultural products from Ukrainian ports to third countries after suffering a “massive” drone attack on its fleet of ships in Crimea, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Saturday.

Moscow assures that the Ukrainian forces, with the help of unmanned aircraftperpetrated the aforementioned attack on the Black Sea Fleet located in Sevastopolone of the most important enclaves on the Crimean peninsula, occupied by Russia since 2014.

“Taking into account (…) the terrorist act of the kyiv regime with the participation of British experts against the ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian ships involved in ensuring the security of the grain corridor, the Russian side suspends participation in the implementation of the agreements on the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports,” the ministry said in a statement collected by the Reuters agency.

[El ataque a Odesa pone en peligro el pacto del grano: “Putin escupe en la cara de Guterres y Erdogan”]

From the past July 22, the date on which the agreement entered into force, Ukraine was able to resume its exports of grain and fertilizers to the Black Sea. The Ukrainian export deal was initially agreed for 120 days.

The number of drones that have been carried out in the operation amounts to nine, according to a senior Ukrainian official.

Since the invasion began, the availability of grain from the Ukraine, one of the largest exporters in the world marketl, has been one of the main concerns of the West, which has tried to establish safe corridors for this raw material to reach its ports.

Putin, for his part, has repeatedly tried to sabotage the aforementioned shipments, alleging everything from security problems in the shipping routes to the alleged intention of Europe to send weapons through these ships to Ukraine.

[El ataque a Odesa pone en peligro el pacto del grano: “Putin escupe en la cara de Guterres y Erdogan”]

Late on Friday, a spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Anthony Guterreshad called on the parties to renew the pact.

“We underscore the urgency of doing so to contribute to food security around the world, and to cushion the suffering that this global cost-of-living crisis is inflicting on billions of people,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. .

On the other hand, the Russian Minister of Agriculture, Dmitry Patrushevreported this Saturday that Russia was willing to supply, free of charge, up to 500,000 tons of grain to poor countries in the next four months.

“Taking into account this year’s harvest, the Russian Federation is fully prepared to replace Ukrainian grain and supply all interested countries at affordable prices,” he said.