In his first official response to Russia’s suspension of the ‘Grain from Ukraine’ programme, President Volodymyr Zelensky, Monday, in Kyiv has said his country will find alternative routes to reach Africa and Asia, in a bid to keep food prices down and prevent starvation in destination countries of the export following Russia’s current offensive move. Premium Times reported.
GOOD EVENING NIGERIA reports on Monday, Russia said it will not continue participating in the United Nations and Turkey-brokered Black Sea grain deal.
President Zelensky said this at the Office of the President of Ukraine, while welcoming half a dozen international media executives currently on a fact-finding mission sponsored by the Public Interest Journalism Lab based in Kyiv led by the famous Ukrainian journalist, Nataliya Gumenyek.
The ‘Grain from Ukraine’ programme is a UN and Turkish-brokered arrangement that lets Ukraine export grain to African and Asian markets through the Black Sea port of Odesa in South East Ukraine.
“This is not the first time it has done this,” Mr Zelensky said, remarking that Russia “is constantly provoking to disrupt this agreement.”
“Therefore, I believe that our decision to sign a document on the creation of a grain corridor with Turkey and the United Nations, rather than with the Russian Federation, was a very prudent policy.
“I have an agreement personally with President Erdogan [of Turkeye] and personally with UN Secretary-General [Antonio] Guterres. I told them that Ukraine is ready to work in the triangle, but it will be impossible to work with Russia.”
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Read also: Russia halts participation in Black Sea Grain deal
Russia on Monday said it will not continue participating in the United Nations and Turkey-brokered Black Sea grain deal.
“In fact, the Black Sea agreements ceased to be valid today,” Aljazeera quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as telling reporters.
The deal, since its signing in July 2022, has reportedly helped lower food prices by more than 20 per cent globally and has alleviated a global food crisis.
Read also: Ukraine Grain Deal Collapse: Poor Countries Hardest Hit – Okonjo-Iweala
The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has criticized Russia’s decision to halt its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
In a tweet on Monday, the Nigeria former Minister of Finance expressed her disappointment, highlighting that the consequences of this decision would be most keenly felt by impoverished nations.
“Deeply disappointed at the termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the interruption of the grain trade from Ukraine. I share UN SG at antonioguterres’ regret and concern,” she wrote.
Read also: Ramaphosa, Putin Discuss Black Sea Grain Initiative
President Cyril Ramaphosa had a telephone conversation with President Vladimir Putin, on Saturday, over the ongoing negotiations between Russia and the United Nations (UN) about the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Ramaphosa’s discussion with Putin followed the South African leader’s telephone conversation with UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.
“The discussions also revolved around the African Leaders Peace Mission and the need for a permanent and sustainable solution to the movement of grain from Russia and Ukraine to the international markets,” said Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya.