Nearly a year after it was signed, the agreement that allowed Ukraine to export its grain across the Black Sea is dead. Moscow’s decision not to extend the deadline, which expired at 10 p.m. in Lisbon this Monday, was announced a few hours after an attack destroyed (again) part of the bridge connecting occupied Crimea to Russia. a child. The Kremlin speaks of “terrorism” and points the finger at the Ukrainians and Western allies, but guarantees that the decision on the agreement is not related to this attack.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said he “deeply regrets” Russia’s decision to break the agreement that allowed the export of 32 million tons of grains (half of which are corn) and other foodstuffs from Ukrainian ports . “At a time when food production and availability is impacted by conflict, climate change, energy prices and more, these agreements have helped the price of food fall by more than 23% since March last year. Hundreds of millions of people face hunger and consumers facing a global cost of living crisis, they will pay the price”he added in a statement, promising to continue working to reverse this decision.
Before the Russian invasion, Ukraine was the world’s largest exporter of wheat – the country was known as the “breadbasket of the world” – and Russia was the fifth largest. The agreement allowed the departure of tons of grain blocked in ports – with 45 countries from three continents receiving these goods. Most arrived in China, Spain and Turkey, with 44% of exports reaching countries considered prosperous. About 725 million tons came through the World Food Program to countries in need.
While Ukraine was able to export its grain, a parallel agreement (nothing was ever signed directly between Kiev and Moscow) facilitated Russian food and fertilizer exports. Russia complains that parts of this agreement have not been fulfilled, in addition to the claim that Ukrainian grains are not reaching the needy. However, the UN explains that the mere fact that prices have been reduced has already had an impact.
The grain deal was signed with the support of the United Nations and Turkey, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan remained convinced that “friend” Vladimir Putin wanted to keep the deal. This despite statements by the Kremlin spokesman. “The grain deal is over. Once the Russian side is complied with, the Russian side will immediately return to the deal,” declared Dmitry Peskov.
The importance of the bridge
Although Peskov assured that the attack on the Crimean bridge had nothing to do with the decision, this new embarrassment for the Russians may not have helped keep negotiations open. Symbol of the success of the illegal annexation of Crimea (in 2014), the Kerch road and rail bridge was inaugurated in 2018 by Putin himself. The 19 kilometers is the only connection between the occupied territory and Russia, as it is the crucial bridge for the supply of food and fuel to Crimea and to the troops in southern Ukraine.
In October, Moscow accused Ukraine of being behind the explosion of a booby-trap truck that destroyed part of the bridge, killing three people and forcing the crossing to be closed for months. Putin retaliated for the “terrorist attack” with attacks on several Ukrainian cities, including Kiev, which itself crossed the bridge in December (despite not reopening to traffic until February). Ukraine never officially claimed the attack, only indirectly and months later: President Volodymyr Zelensky included the bridge in one of his army’s “successes” in 2022.
Meanwhile, the bridge has become one of the most heavily guarded points, with the anti-aircraft defenses reinforced to prevent missile attacks and vehicle searches to avoid new trucks carrying explosives. In the waters, more dolphins have been trained to protect not only the Black Sea Fleet, but also the bridge itself. None of this was enough to prevent the attack at around 3am on Monday according to the Russian investigation, it was committed using “two unmanned surface maritime drones”.
Officially, Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but several sources have confirmed to AFP and Ukrainian media that the intelligence services (SBU) are responsible. The SBU spokesman said that after winning the war they will give details, without actually admitting anything. Putin has vowed to take revenge. The attack, which killed a couple and injured their daughter, only destroyed the section of road, leaving the railway intact and there was no damage to the pillars either – this would require a more time-consuming repair. The forecasts are that crossings in one direction can resume on September 15 and in both directions on November 1.
About 50,000 Russian tourists who were in Crimea (it remained a popular holiday destination despite the war), many with their own cars, will have to find another way to return. Russia suggests they make the 400-kilometer journey through Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine, saying the army is guaranteeing their safety. This Monday, there were already kilometers of queues to enter the Kherson region.
Source: DN
