Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, with the United Nations, Turkey and Ukraine pressing ahead to implement the deal with a transit plan in place for 16 ships.
Russia backed out of the deal because it could not “guarantee safety of civilian ships” travelling under the pact after an attack on its Black Sea fleet.
According to Reuters, the UN and Turkey tries to save the agreement, with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres being deeply concerned about Russia’s move.
As a result, on October 30, no ships moved through the established maritime humanitarian corridor. However, the United Nations said in a statement that it had agreed with Ukraine and Turkey on a movement plan for 16 vessels on October 31.
The Russian officials had been informed about the plan, along with the intention to inspect 40 outbound vessels on October 31, and noted that “all participants coordinate with their respective military and other relevant authorities to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels” under the deal.
What is more, the Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar was in contact with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts to try and save the agreement and asked the parties to avoid any provocation.
Finally, US President Joe Biden called Russia’s move “purely outrageous” and said it would increase starvation.
The news come as UN had been working to expand and extend for a year the deal enabling Ukrainian Black Sea grain exports. As UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated, UN is “trying to remove the uncertainty to ensure that people are publicly saying that ‘yes, this will be extended a further year,’ but we’re not there yet.”
The team is also working to facilitate Russian grain and fertilizer exports.
