Turkey says it is determined Ukraine will continue food exports despite Russia suspending its participation in a United Nations-brokered grain deal, a move that has heightened concerns for nations desperate for food aid. Russia suspended the deal on Saturday after what it said was a major Ukrainian drone attack on its naval fleet in annexed Crimea. Despite Moscow’s decision, cargo ships set sail carrying 354,500 tons of grain, the most shipments in a single day since the program began in August. Turkey, which helped broker the deal, remained committed to the deal. “Even if Russia behaves hesitantly because it has not received the same benefits, we will resolutely continue our efforts to serve humanity,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu on Monday that Moscow should reconsider its suspension of participation. In a phone call between the two ministers, Akar told Soygu it was extremely important to continue the grain deal and added that it should be implemented separately from the conflict in Ukraine, Turkey’s defense ministry said. Amir Abdullah, the UN official coordinating the programme, said: “Civilian cargo ships can never be a military target or held hostage. The food must flow.” Civilian cargo ships can never be a military target or taken hostage. Food should flow. #BlackSeaGrainInitiative pic.twitter.com/sqnIVMmyny — Amir M. Abdulla (@AmirMAAbdulla) October 31,
“Dangerous” exports
Russia said on Monday that it was “unacceptable” for the ships to pass through the Black Sea security corridor. “The movement of ships along the security corridor is unacceptable, as the Ukrainian leadership and command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine use it to conduct military operations against the Russian Federation,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. “Under the current conditions, there can be no question of guaranteeing the safety of any object in the indicated direction until the Ukrainian side accepts additional obligations not to use this route for military purposes.” Russia stressed, however, that it is not withdrawing from the agreement, but merely suspending it. The ministry did not say what Russia would do if the ships continued to sail the route. Ukraine has neither confirmed nor denied it carried out the attack on the Crimean base of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, but says the Russian navy is a legitimate military target. Moscow said the explosions were caused by a wave of sea and air drones. In July, Russia and Ukraine signed the grain agreement, which allowed the resumption of grain exports interrupted by the war. So far, more than nine million tons of Ukrainian grain have been exported, and the deal was due to be renewed on November 19.
Rising food prices
Ukraine and Russia are both among the world’s largest food exporters. After Russia announced it was pulling out of the deal, wheat futures in Chicago jumped 6 percent and corn rose more than 2 percent, raising concerns about global supplies. “This is an inflationary move, supporting wheat and corn prices,” said a Singapore-based trader. “Prices have risen, but further gains will depend on how the situation develops.” Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of wheat expected to be delivered to Africa and the Middle East are at risk after Russia pulled out of the deal. Ukraine’s corn exports to Europe are also expected to be affected.
