Russia to suspend its grain export deal in response to the alleged attack by Ukraine 2022

The Russian Defense Ministry mentioned on Saturday that Moscow has decided to suspend its implementation of an UN-brokered grain export deal. The deal has visualized the export of more than nine millions ton of grain from Ukraine, which has resulted in the decline of global food prices.

The Ministry has further mentioned claimed drone attack by Ukraine against ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet that have moored off the coast of Crimea. The incident took place on Saturday as mentioned by Russia as a reason for the suspension.

Ukraine has denied the attack.

The Russian declaration came to light after U.N chief Antonio Guterres urged the two countries to renew the deals. Guterres even requested other countries, especially the western countries, to prevent the obstacles that were not allowing the exports of Russian grain and fertilizers.

The U.N chief has even urged the urgency of renewing the deal that was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July. The deal will get expired on 19 November. His spokesperson has mentioned the importance of the renewal of the grain export deal mentioning that it will contribute to food security across the world, and overcome the suffering of the global crisis, which is disrupting the livelihoods of millions of people due to inflation. 

Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, stated that before Moscow talks about a renewal of the grain export deal, it needs to observe the country’s grain and fertilizer exports to international markets, which never really took place at the beginning of the deal.

The US has started to condemn the decision of Russia to suspend the renewal of the grain export deal stating that any decision by the Kremlin to disrupt the initiative highlights that Moscow does not care.

He has further added that Moscow does not care if the world goes hungry or if the world’s food security crisis severs.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked for security guarantees from Ukraine after he blamed Kyiv for using the grain corridors for planning an attack on the occupying coast of Crimea.

The US has blamed Russia for extortion with the demand.

Russia’s grain export deal has played an integral role in battling the food crisis prices. The Stated Department spokesperson has mentioned that nearly ten million metric tonnes of food grains have been exported. This helped to ease the global food prices that have increased after the invasion of Ukraine.

He further added that each ounce of grain benefitted the hungry people of the world.

Will Russia stick to the grain export deal?

The diplomatic efforts by the U.N in the wartime situation resulted in Russia saying that it would stick with the deal on November 2, after Ukraine pledged not to use a designated Black sea corridor to plan an attack on the Russian forces.

But, the Russian President has already mentioned that Moscow has the right to withdraw the grain export deal if Kyiv breaks its words.

Vladimir Putin mentioned in a Security Councils Meeting that Russia demands the right that Ukraine’s humanitarian corridors will not be used for military purposes. He further added that he has given instructions to the defense councils to resume full participation in the work.

Putin has even appreciated Turkey’s mediation efforts for the renewal of the deal as the Turkish President has tried to maintain neutrality in the conflict as a whole and his intention of protecting the interest of the poorer countries.

Erdogan has revealed that the grain export deal will be functional from Wednesday, directing the shipments to African countries, including Somalia, Djibouti, and Sudan. 

One of the critical concerns of Russia is that most of the crucial grain shipments have ended up in the richer countries as Moscow and Kyiv have separate agreements with Turkey and U.N in July.

The U.N Humanitarian chief disclosed on Monday that 23 percent of the cargo shipments from Ukraine had been exported to the lower or the lower-middle countries, which have received around 49 percent of the wheat shipments.

Ukraine and Russia are the major global exporters of wheat, barley, sunflower oil, and other essential commodities o the developing nations, which are struggling with a food security crisis as of now. A loss of supplies before the implementation of the grain export deal has surged global food prices, leading to poverty followed by soaring energy prices.

Edited by Prakriti Arora