The government in Kyiv has accused Russia of violating the terms of the grain deal. According to Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Reconstruction Yuri Vaskov, Russia is not allowing ships to sail to the port city of Pivdennyi.
Vaskov spoke of “gross violations” of the grain deal. Under the agreement, Russia guarantees the safe export of grain and foodstuffs across the Black Sea from the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi.
The grain deal was signed by Russia and Ukraine last July and was extended for two months last week. But Russia has not allowed grain ships into Pivdennyi, the largest port of the three in terms of throughput, for a month, according to Vaskov.
“Russia has found an effective way to exclude Ukrainian grain exports through the port of Pivdennyi,” Vaskov told Reuters news agency. According to him, Russian inspectors had refused to inspect the ship destined for Pivdennyi since April 29, as a condition of the deal.
The United Nations, which brokered the deal and its extension with Turkey, also expressed concern yesterday that Pivdennyi had not been reached by a Ukrainian grain ship since May 2. Moscow denies blocking grain exports.
Tom Kieft
Also read this analysis by former Russia correspondent Tom Vennink on the importance of the grain deal for Ukraine and global food markets.
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