Ukraine’s foreign minister explains why attack on Russian warships is merely a pretext for Russia’s withdrawal from grain deal
EUROPEAN PRAVDA — SUNDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2022, 11:40
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has noted that the attack on Russian ships in Sevastopol Bay in occupied Crimea was merely a pretext for Moscow to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, since steps to disrupt it had begun long before that.
Source: European Pravda, quoting a tweet by Kuleba
Quote by Kuleba: "By suspending its participation in the grain deal on a false pretext of explosions 220 kilometres away from the grain corridor, Russia is blocking 2 million tonnes of grain on 176 vessels already at sea — enough to feed over 7 million people.
Russia planned this [its withdrawal from the initiative] well in advance. The current queue with grain has been accumulating in the Black Sea since September, when Russia started deliberately delaying the functioning of the corridor and seeking to undermine the deal. Russia took the decision to resume its hunger games long ago and is now trying to justify it."
The current queue with grain has accumulated in the Black Sea since September, when Russia started deliberately delaying the functioning of the corridor and seeking to undermine the deal. Russia took the decision to resume its hunger games long ago and now tries to justify it 2/2
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) October 30, 2022
Note: On 29 October, Russia announced that it had suspended its participation in the implementation of the grain deal, allegedly because of the "terrorist attack" in Sevastopol Bay on Saturday morning. The Russian Defence Ministry said that the attack in Sevastopol Bay was targeted at ships of the Black Sea Fleet that were allegedly involved in ensuring the security of the grain corridor.
The UN commented that it was "maintaining contact" with the Russian authorities following reports of Russia’s withdrawal from the initiative.
It is worth noting that the grain deal was due to end in November, and Russia had been threatening to withdraw if its demands were not met.
Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
