On March 31, the US State Department expressed concern over Russia’s suspension of Ukraine’s grain export agreements.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said Russia’s failure to comply with the wheat deal “is in no one’s interest.”
“It is not in the interest of Russia, nor in the interest of the international community,” he added.
“If this plan is stopped, food prices will skyrocket,” he said, adding that this has “immediate negative effects” on global food security.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a televised press conference the same day that “we are not saying we will stop participating.”
“We’re saying we’re postponing this,” he said.
He added that Ukrainian drones have traveled the same route used by grain transporters and that “they pose a threat to both our ships and their associated civilian ships, which must ensure the safety of grain exports”.
The remarks came after Russia claimed on October 29 that Ukraine attacked the Russian Black Sea fleet anchored on the Krm Peninsula.
Ukraine has rejected Russia’s claims, accusing it of mishandling its weapons.
In July, Russia and Ukraine agreed to export more than 9 million tons of Ukrainian cereals, including wheat and maize, across the Black Sea through a four-party agreement involving the United Nations and Turkey.
VOA News
* This article referred to Reuters.
