Russia finally agreed to rejoin the Ukrainian grain export deal, after intense diplomatic activity between the Kremlin and Turkey. Moscow pulled out of the deal late last week after ships in its Black Sea fleet were reportedly attacked by drones. The text had been negotiated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the same who announced the return of Russia to his parliament in Ankara.
“Following our discussion with Mr. Putin yesterday, Russian Defense Minister Mr. Shoigu called our National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, and informed him that grain shipments will continue from noon today. today as previously planned“, commented the Turkish head of state.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan had spoken to Vladimir Putin directly after Russia’s withdrawal. According to the Kremlin, the return to the agreement is only possible on the condition that Ukraine provides security guarantees.
“The Russian Federation considers that the guarantees received at this stage are sufficient and resumes the implementation of the agreement from the Ukrainian ports, suspended after the terrorist attack in Sevastopol“, said Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense:
Traffic can therefore resume in the Black Sea. The cargo ships at the center of a global food security issue had until then been largely stuck in Ukrainian ports since Saturday.
Westerners had strongly denounced Moscow’s suspension of the agreement signed in July, while kyiv had denounced the attack on Sevastopol as a “false pretext” and called for pressure to be put on the Kremlin to “again respect its commitments”. Despite Russia’s action, several ships left Ukrainian Black Sea ports on Monday and Tuesday. No movement of grain ships was scheduled for Wednesday, according to the international body that oversees exports, speaking ahead of Erdogan’s announcement.