Putin: We could quit grain deal again, but would not stop shipment to Turkey
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Cargo ship Rubymar, carrying Ukranian grain, at anchor in the Black Sea on Nov 2, 2022.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday reserved Russia’s right to withdraw again from an international agreement allowing Ukraine to export grain via the Black Sea, after ending four days of non-cooperation with the deal.
If Russia did so, however, Mr Putin said it would not impede shipments of grain from Ukraine to Turkey.
Moscow had on Saturday pulled out of the arrangement
Wednesday’s U-turn
In a statement, Russia’s Defence Ministry said that, with the help of the UN and Nato member Turkey, it had obtained sufficient written guarantees from Ukraine that it would not use the secure shipping corridor or its designated Ukrainian ports for strikes against Russia.
Mr Putin affirmed the receipt of those commitments, and said that if Russia withdrew once more because of Ukrainian breaches, it would substitute the entire volume of grain destined for the “poorest countries” for free from its own stocks.
But, in a nod to Turkey’s influence, as well as what he called its “neutrality” in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, he added: “In any case, we will not in the future impede deliveries of grain from Ukrainian territory to the Turkish Republic.”
Moscow had said on Monday it would be risky and unacceptable for ships to continue sailing through the secure corridor set up under the deal, which had freed up Ukrainian ports and shipping lanes that Russia had previously blockaded.
Despite the Russian move, ships had continued to export Ukrainian grain
“This is quite an unexpected turnaround,” said Mr Andrey Sizov, head of the Russia-focused Sovecon agriculture consultancy.
“We did not bury this deal, but we did not expect Russia’s return to it so soon either, as it was not very clear what kind of guarantees Russia could get and how quickly it would happen. But, well, good job Erdogan.”
Even after the call with the Turkish leader, the Kremlin had said Moscow would only consider resuming the agreement after a “detailed investigation” of a drone attack on Saturday against its Black Sea Fleet in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, which it accused Ukraine of carrying out with support from Britain.
Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for the attack and denies using the humanitarian corridor for military purposes. Britain has denied involvement and accused Russia of trying to divert attention from its military failures in Ukraine.
Russian political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya said Wednesday’s announcement represented an acknowledgement by Mr Putin that he could not block the shipments.
“The Kremlin itself simply fell into a trap from which it did not know how to get out,” she said.
“It was necessary to retreat and put on a good face (not very successfully) when faced with a bad game. That is, Putin, no matter how preoccupied he is with Ukraine, his historical mission and his faith that he’s right, remains a moderately rational politician who knows how to retreat if necessary.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier that the world should respond firmly to any Russian attempts to disrupt Ukraine’s export corridor across the Black Sea, which was blocked after Moscow invaded Ukraine on Feb 24.
The Russian blockade has exacerbated food shortages and a cost-of-living crisis in many countries as Ukraine is one of the world’s biggest suppliers of grain and oilseeds. REUTERS
