After naval drones attacked a strategic bridge connecting Russian territory with the annexed Crimea peninsula, Russia refused to extend the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grains.

 

"The Black Sea Agreement has de facto ended today (July 17, 2023)," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "As soon as the part [of the agreement] concerning Russia is satisfied, the country will immediately return to the grain agreement," he added.

 

For months, Moscow has complained about the agreement sealed in July 2022 with the mediation of Turkey and the United Nations, which has helped alleviate fears of a global food crisis. It has allowed the export of over 32 million tons of Ukrainian grain and also includes the removal of obstacles for the export of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers.

 

Vladimir Putin denounced last week that Moscow's interests were being ignored. Moscow's announcement comes hours after naval drones attacked the bridge connecting Russia with the annexed Crimea peninsula, a key route for transporting supplies to Russian soldiers in Ukraine.