The agreement on the export of Ukrainian cereals, crucial for world food, expired Monday at midnight in Istanbul. Russia refused to extend it, denouncing obstacles to trade in its agricultural products. “Hundreds of millions of people are facing hunger” and “will pay the price”, reacted Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN.
The agreement was signed in July 2022 under the auspices of the United Nations and Turkey. Over the past year, it has enabled nearly 33 million tonnes of cereals to be taken out of Ukrainian ports despite the war. kyiv has shown its willingness to continue exports, with or without Moscow’s agreement on ship safety. “Even without Russia, everything must be done so that we can use this corridor in the Black Sea. We are not afraid,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
For its part, Moscow confirmed that the agreement had “de facto” ended. “As soon as the part concerning Russia is satisfied, we will immediately return to the agreement on cereals”, assured Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Kremlin. For the time being, Russia has indicated an end of inadmissibility to the calls which had multiplied in recent days, demanding that its demands be met on its own exports of cereals and fertilizers.
Damaged port infrastructure
Ukrainian “port infrastructure” was damaged in a Russian missile attack that targeted Odessa (south) overnight from Monday to Tuesday. “Six Kalibr missiles were launched from the waters of the Black Sea at Odessa,” the Ukrainian operational command for the south of the country said in a statement, adding that they were destroyed by air defense but that the debris from the missiles “damaged port infrastructure and several private homes”.
28 drones shot down over Crimea
Russian air defense shot down 28 Ukrainian drones over Crimea overnight from Monday to Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
“Seventeen Ukrainian drones were destroyed by air defense,” the ministry said on Telegram, adding that “another eleven drones were neutralized” and “having failed to reach their target, they crashed.” “There were no casualties or damage,” according to the same source. The local governor installed in Crimea by Moscow, Sergei Aksionov, also indicated that the attack had not caused any casualties.
Activated air defense in the Odessa region
Ukrainian air defenses were activated early Tuesday in the Odessa region, a key area for the grain deal that expired on Monday evening, local authorities said. “Odessa. Combat air defense operations continue,” Sergiy Bratchuk, an official with the Odessa region administration, said on Telegram. Southern Ukraine is targeted by “drone attacks”, regional governor Oleg Kiper reported on the same social network, calling on the population to stay in shelters until the air alert is lifted.
After Moscow’s invasion began, Ukrainian Black Sea ports were blockaded by Russian warships until an agreement, signed in July 2022, allowed grain exports to pass through. The Odessa region has three ports that were part of the deal, crucial for global food.
The United States considers the expiry of the agreement “unacceptable”
The head of the American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, described Monday as “inadmissible” the Russian decision not to renew the agreement on the export of Ukrainian cereals. He assured that this decision would lead to an increase in food prices.
Moscow’s choice to use ‘food as a weapon’ […] will make it harder to get food to the places that desperately need it and drive up prices,” Blinken said.
Pope’s envoy for peace in Ukraine visits Washington
Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Pope Francis’ envoy for peace in Ukraine, is visiting Washington until Wednesday. He will meet President Joe Biden, a few weeks after his trips to kyiv and Moscow. Cardinal Zuppi’s visit “falls within the context of the mission to promote peace in Ukraine and is aimed at an exchange of ideas and opinions on the current tragic situation and at supporting initiatives in the humanitarian field”, the Vatican said in a brief statement without specifying its program.
He will be received by the American president on Tuesday “at the request of Pope Francis” and the two men will discuss Moscow’s “brutal war” against Ukraine, the White House announced on Monday. “President Biden and Cardinal Zuppi will discuss the widespread suffering caused by Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine,” the US executive continued in a statement.
Putin promises ‘response’ to Crimean bridge attack
Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Monday to strengthen security measures on the Crimean bridge. This strategic infrastructure was damaged for the second time by a Ukrainian attack. “Given that this is the second terrorist attack on the Crimean bridge, I am waiting for concrete proposals to improve the security of this infrastructure,” Vladimir Putin said during a government meeting broadcast on television.
According to him, a girl was injured and both her parents killed in the Ukrainian attack. “The family was traveling to Crimea from the (Russian) region of Belgorod,” the president said. “There will of course be a response from Russia. The Ministry of Defense is preparing suitable proposals.” The attack, carried out by Ukrainian special services and naval forces, caused extensive damage to the road section of the structure.