The deal, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, was set to expire on November 19 with the possibility of an extension. That extension, we are told, is now highly unlikely following a targeted drone attack by Kiev against Russian ships in the waterway.
"Taking into account ... the terrorist act by the Kyiv regime with the participation of British experts against the ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian vessels involved in ensuring the security of the 'grain corridor,' the Russian side suspends participation in the implementation of agreements on the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports," announced the Russian ministry in a statement.
The drone attacks occurred on Saturday, resulting in "minor damage" to a Russian minesweeper. Russia says it was able to mostly successfully repel the "terrorist attack," which occurred on the "outer roadstead of Sevastopol."
"... the use of naval weapons and naval aviation of the Black Sea Fleet destroyed four marine unmanned vehicles, three more devices were destroyed on the internal roadstead," the ministry's statement continued.
Back in the spring, food exports were halted in many areas of Eastern Europe following Russia's initial invasion of Ukraine, which occurred in February.
Since that time, special deals like the Black Sea Grain Initiative were forged to ensure the continuation of food exports, without which tens of millions of people – many of them in Northern Africa and other developing areas – will starve.
This latest attack by Kyiv-NATO-United States-United Kingdom against Russian warships will only exacerbate the food shortage problem in these parts of the world that are heavily reliant upon food imports for sustenance.
According to The New York Times, the United Nations, which helped forge the Black Sea Grain Initiative, is in contact with Russian officials regarding the country's comments about suspending its participation in the deal.
Rather than condemn the Western powers that provoked this with the terrorist attacks, the UN is instead focusing on trying to get Russia to continue playing ball despite being the recipient of Western terrorism.
"It is vital that all parties refrain from any action that would imperil the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which is a critical humanitarian effort that is clearly having a positive impact on access to food for millions of people," said Stéphane Dujarric de la Rivière, the spokesman for António Guterres, the UN secretary general.
Even prior to the terrorist attack by Kyiv, Russia was already on the fence about extending the grain deal beyond November 19 unless certain conditions were met. Western powers have been uncooperative with those demands, and now the attack has soured relations even further.
Ukraine is of course blaming Russia, projecting its own deviant behavior on Vladimir Putin. Here is how Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, spun the incident:
"Now Moscow uses a false pretext to block the grain corridor which ensures food security for millions of people. I call on all states to demand Russia to stop its hunger games and recommit to its obligations."
In the comment section, someone suggested that Russia's suspension of the grain deal "isn't the Russian response" and is "just a warm up."
"It should be within the next 48 hours," this person added, noting that the Ukes are about to "lose a hell of a lot more vital infrastructure over this."
"It seems they just don't get the message, and no, they will never get back Crimea."
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