Russia to rejoin UN-led black sea grain deal

Russia’s ministry of defense has confirmed Moscow will resume its participation in the Black Sea grain deal.

In a statement, the ministry says that it has obtained the “necessary guarantees” from Ukraine on “not using the humanitarian corridor set up by the agreement, and Ukrainian ports designated for the export of agricultural products for military operations against the Russian Federation.

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Turkish President Erdogan said the renewed deal would prioritise shipments to African nations, including Somalia, Djibouti and Sudan, in line with Russia’s concerns that most of the grain was ending up in richer nations.

Russia suspended its participation in the grain deal over the weekend, citing allegations of a Ukrainian drone attack against its Black Sea fleet.

The United Nations officials stationed at the Joint Coordination Centre for the Grain Initiative said there will be no movement of vessels on Wednesday, in the light of Russia’s decision to suspend its involvement.

The UN Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said the Ukrainian, Turkish and UN delegations that remain active in the deal, had reached agreement on the pause at the JCC, based in Istanbul.

As of Tuesday, the total tonnage of grain and foodstuffs moved from Ukrainian ports under the Black Sea Grain Initiative is more than 9.7 million metric tonnes.
The deal which was signed by the UN, Ukraine, Russia and Türkiye last July is set to formally lapse in the middle of this month.

And now that Russia is back on board, the landmark agreement to export grain and related foodstuffs from Ukraine will no doubt be kept alive amid the ongoing war and the global cost of living crisis.