Status: 11/02/2022 5:48 p.m
According to Moscow sources, Russia is resuming its participation in the grain agreement with Ukraine. Moscow suspended the agreement on Saturday. However, Kremlin chief Putin does not rule out another exit.
Russia is rejoining the deal suspended on Saturday to export grain from Ukraine via the Black Sea. This was announced by the Russian Ministry of Defense in Moscow. Thanks to Turkey’s mediation, Ukraine has pledged not to use the sea corridor for hostilities against Russia. There were necessary written guarantees from Ukraine to use the established humanitarian corridor and the ports only for the export of food. That is sufficient for the moment to fulfill the agreement, it said in Moscow.
The Turkish government had previously confirmed Russia’s re-entry into the grain agreement: “Following my conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday, grain deliveries will continue from noon today,” said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to Erdogan, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu called his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar to inform him that grain deliveries would continue “as before” on Wednesday. Deliveries to African countries would be given priority, Erdogan said, including Somalia, Djibouti and Sudan.
Russia had previously suspended the agreement and justified this with the fact that Ukrainian drones had attacked the Black Sea Fleet.
“There was a lot on the phone,” Demian von Osten, ARD Moscow, on Russia’s renewed participation in the grain agreement
Tagesschau 3:00 p.m., 2.11.2022
New exit possible
However, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has not ruled out a new exit from the grain agreement – should there be violations from the Russian point of view. “Russia reserves the right to withdraw from these agreements in the event that the guarantees are violated by Ukraine,” Putin told a video conference with the National Security Council. Even if the agreement is withdrawn, Russia is prepared to allow grain deliveries intended for poorer countries to pass through the agreed corridor.
Thanks from Ukraine to Turkey and the UN
The Ukrainian government thanked Turkey and the United Nations (UN). Infrastructure Minister Olexander Kubrakow particularly emphasized the efforts of Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterre. The UN coordinator for exports of Ukrainian grain, Amir Abdulla, welcomed the resumption. “I look forward to working again with all parties to the initiative,” he said on Twitter.
Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht spoke of a signal that gave reason for cautious optimism. “Now these announcements must be followed by action as quickly as possible,” said Lambrecht. The UN World Food Program welcomed Russia’s rejoining the agreement. The head of the organization’s Berlin office, Martin Frick, told the German Press Agency that for millions of people in need worldwide, the ships are a beacon of hope that could save lives.
Agreement finalized in summer
The deal, brokered by Turkey and the UN in July, ended months of blockades on Ukrainian grain exports as a result of Russia’s war of aggression. The Grain Agreement is intended to enable Ukrainian cargo ships to safely pass through the Black Sea on specified routes and was seen as a key contribution to alleviating the global food crisis triggered by the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
As of October 24, the coordination center in Istanbul registered the passage of 383 ships with more than 8.6 million tons of grain and other food. Grain exports have a major impact on global food prices, and poorer countries in particular depend on it. But this is not only important for the diet in many other countries – also for the budget of Ukraine. Ultimately, the Ukrainian farmers should be able to sow new seeds from the billions in revenue.