If the freighters can no longer safely cross the seas, there could be a famine.
(Photo: dpa)
Warsaw Russia’s renewed blockade of grain exports from Ukraine is now threatening another global hunger crisis. Moscow wrote to UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres on Saturday that it was suspending the agreement brokered by the UN and Turkey on the safe transit of grain carriers through the maritime war zone off Ukraine. As a result, the “Ikaria Angel”, loaded with 40,000 tons of grain, was already unable to leave the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Chornomorsk on Sunday.
“These products were intended for Ethiopians who are on the brink of starvation. But due to the Russian blockade of the ‘grain corridor’, exports are no longer possible,” Ukraine’s Minister of Infrastructure Olexander Kubrakov wrote on Twitter on Sunday.
Russia justified its decision on the security corridor through the Black Sea, which was actually agreed until November 22, with alleged explosions in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol, which was annexed by Russia. The Kremlin claims that the Ukrainian military “led by British specialists” allegedly attacked ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and civilian ships “involved in securing the ‘grain corridor'”.
>> Also read here: Bombs on Ukrainian energy supply – “Putin will not win the war with this”
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Volunteer community Geoconfirmed has found that at least three Russian Black Sea Fleet ships have been hit by drones in the annexed Crimea peninsula, including the flagship Admiral Makarov in Sevastopol. The Ukrainian military command said the explosions in Sevastopol may have been caused by failed launches of Russian missiles.
At the same time, the Ukrainian leadership called Moscow’s withdrawal from the Grain Initiative “food blackmail” and stressed that Russia was withdrawing from the agreement under false pretenses. The UN has called on “all parties” to refrain from doing anything that could jeopardize the implementation of the agreement and said it is in contact with the Russian authorities.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on Russia to comply with its obligations under the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports across the Black Sea. “Millions of people are starving around the world and Russia is once again compromising the safety of grain ships. That has to stop,” said the Greens politician on Sunday before her departure for Kazakhstan in Berlin. “Whether families in Lebanon, Niger or Bangladesh can pay for their next meal must not depend on the Russian president’s war plans.” The grain corridor had been in effect since August 1.
More: With a visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Baerbock wants to set an example for EU rapprochement