Moscow Threatens to Exit Black Sea Grain Deal

Russia has warned that it might not extend the Black Sea grain initiative next month unless certain demands are met, in a move that threatens to cut off exports from Ukraine under a secured route set up in July by the United Nations.

Gennady Gatilov, Russia's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, said in an interview with Reuters news agency on Thursday that Moscow had sent a letter to the U.N. with complaints about the deal not being implemented to facilitate Russia's own fertilizer and grain exports. "If we see nothing is happening on the Russian side of the deal, export of Russian grains and fertilizers, then excuse us, we will have to look at it in a different way," he said.

The threat comes after a fiery explosion that partly destroyed a strategic bridge connecting Russia to the occupied Crimean peninsula. Russian forces are in retreat in the east and south, seven months into the war. And President Vladimir Putin is more isolated than ever after an overwhelming vote at the United Nations to condemn Moscow's unilateral annexation of Ukrainian territory.

The current deal, created in July for an initial four months, allows Ukrainian grain to flow out of ports in the Odesa region. As of October 12, more than 7 million tons of Ukrainian grain had left the country through the secured route, according to the U.N.'s Joint Coordination Center.

Source: USAgNet