Putin: "Russia Has Never Withdrawn from Black Sea Grain Deal... Temporarily Suspended Due to Ukraine Attacks"

Blaming Ukraine for Drone Attack
Ukraine and UN Emphasize "Grain Exports Will Continue"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russia has not withdrawn from the Black Sea grain export agreement, which the Russian Foreign Ministry had unilaterally announced it would suspend, and that the suspension was only temporary due to Ukrainian offensives. Regarding recent airstrikes on key infrastructure in major Ukrainian cities, he pressured by suggesting the possibility of stronger airstrikes as a response to Ukraine's attacks.

On the 31st (local time), President Putin said at a press conference following a trilateral meeting with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, "Russia has never fully withdrawn from the Black Sea grain agreement," and added, "It is temporarily suspended due to threats posed by Ukraine to humanitarian corridors."

Earlier, on the 29th, the Russian Foreign Ministry unilaterally notified that it would suspend the grain export agreement, claiming that Ukrainian forces had carried out a drone attack on the Russian-occupied Sevastopol naval base in Crimea. As a result, about 200 ships waiting to export grain in the Black Sea area were temporarily stranded.

President Putin stated, "Grain exports are intended to guarantee the interests of the poorest countries, and we have faithfully fulfilled that promise," and pressured Ukraine strongly by saying, "The attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure were partly a response to the terrorism that occurred in Sevastopol, and this is not all we can do."

Ukraine strongly condemned Russia for unilaterally suspending the agreement and shifting the blame onto Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at a press conference after meeting with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, emphasized, "Russia says it is temporarily suspending participation in the agreement, but in reality, it has unilaterally withdrawn," and added, "We will continue to export grain from Black Sea ports to stabilize the global food market."

The United Nations also emphasized that the agreement is still in effect and that grain exports remain valid. Martin Griffiths, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, stated, "Despite Russia's suspension of participation, the Black Sea agreement obligates all signatories not to attack ships and ports related to the agreement," and added, "We are confident that this provision remains valid."

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