The European Union (EU) condemned Russia’s decision to withdraw from the Black Sea grain agreement despite Turkey’s efforts to mediate, reports Anadolu.
“I strongly condemn Russia’s cynical move to cancel the Black Sea Grain Initiative, despite the efforts of the United Nations (UN) and Turkey,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Twitter on Monday.
She added:
“The EU is working to ensure food security for the world’s vulnerable. #EUSolidarityLanes will continue to bring agri-food products from Ukraine to global markets,” she added.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Josep Borrell said he regretted Russia’s decision.
“This is something very serious that will create a lot of problems for many people around the world. We will do everything we can through our lines of solidarity to make Ukrainian grain available to the people who live off it,” he said in Brussels on Monday.
Borrell emphasized:
“And I have to blame Russia for this decision. Completely unjustified”.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that the agreement on the grain corridor had come to an end and had been stopped.
“Russia will immediately return to the grain agreement as soon as the relevant conditions are accepted. Part of the agreement regarding Russia has not been fulfilled,” Peskov said.
On July 22, 2022, Turkiye, the UN, Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul on the restoration of grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports that were blocked by the war between Russia and Ukraine.
A Joint Coordination Center has been established in Istanbul with officials from the three countries and the UN monitoring the shipments.
The first ship carrying grain sailed according to the historic agreement on August 1, 2022 from the Ukrainian port of Odesa.
Turkiye, which has won international praise for its unique mediating role between Ukraine and Russia, has repeatedly called on Kiev and Moscow to end the war through negotiations.
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