The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry called for organizing military escort for ships leaving Ukrainian ports in connection with Russia’s suspension of participation in the implementation of the grain deal.
On October 29, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the suspension of the Russian side’s participation in the so-called “grain deal”, under which food was exported from Ukraine. The ministry said that in the morning, Ukrainian armed formations attacked ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian vessels that were on the external and internal raids of the Sevastopol base. The Ministry of Defense also accused the British military of planning the attack and preparing Ukrainian units for its implementation.
“If he (Putin – ed.) continues to jeopardize grain exports from Ukraine, the free world should unite to protect shipping with the help of military escorts. We will bypass blackmail,” Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said.
Earlier it was reported about the reaction of other representatives of Western countries. US President Joe Biden called the Russian decision “outrageous.” “This is completely outrageous, it will lead to increased hunger. There is no reason for them to act in this way,” he said. British Foreign Minister James Cleverley wrote that “Russia should allow grain exports to reach the hungry in the world,” because “the grain deal plays an important role in ensuring global food security.”
Earlier it was reported that developed countries imported half of Ukrainian wheat after the conclusion of the “grain deal”. At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the EU’s decision to lift restrictions on the supply of Russian grain and fertilizers only for European countries “ugly”. He also accused the West of cheating in the implementation of the food deal and declared his readiness to supply grain to the poorest countries.