Ukraine on Monday accused Russia of deliberately delaying more than 165 grain ships by prolonging inspections under a deal reached on these crucial deliveries to many countries in Africa and Asia.
“Since October 14, 2022, Russian inspectors assigned to the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul have significantly expanded the inspection of ships that are heading to Ukrainian ports to receive grain or that have already been loaded and are on their way to their destination. end,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“As a result, more than 165 ships are stuck in a queue near the Bosphorus Strait, and this number continues to increase every day,” he added, denouncing delays “for political reasons.” According to the Ukrainian ministry, the delays concern three million tons of grain intended to supply 10 million people.
Several countries affected, according to Ukraine
He accused Moscow of “undermining world food security” and called on the international community to put pressure on Moscow. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky had already accused Russia on Friday of “deliberately” delaying the passage of the ships. According to him, China, Egypt, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iraq, Lebanon or the Maghreb countries are among the states affected by these delays.
Russia and Ukraine agreed in July to resume Ukraine’s grain exports, suspended since the start of the war in late February, following a UN-sponsored deal with Turkey. Russia later criticized the deal, saying its own exports were hampered by the sanctions.
Source: BFM TV
