Russia decided to withdraw from the “grain initiative” because it decided that it no longer served its interests.
Russia refused to continue its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative. This effectively nullified a secure agreement that, despite the war, ensured the passage of ships that exported grain from Ukraine.
Russia is now seeking to prevent any merchant shipping from Ukrainian ports.
British intelligence notes that Russia apparently made the decision to withdraw from the agreement some time ago as it decided it no longer served its interests.
At the same time, the aggressor country masked this with disinformation, claiming that its withdrawal was due to concern that civilian ships were allegedly endangered by Ukrainian mines, and that Ukraine was using the grain corridor for military purposes. At the same time, the Russian Federation did not provide any evidence for these claims.
On July 19, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it would assume that all ships approaching Ukraine were carrying weapons.
“The Russian Black Sea Fleet will likely now play a more active role in obstructing any ongoing trade. However, Black Sea Fleet blockade operations will be endangered by uncrewed Ukrainian surface ships and coastal defense cruise missiles,” the intelligence added.
Russia’s withdrawal from the “grain agreement”
Russia announced that it was withdrawing on the “grain initiative” allegedly because the Kremlin’s conditions “are not being met.”
At the same time, we note that the aggressor country did not ensure the stable operation of the “grain corridor” for several months. Russia blocked inspections of ships and fired at the grain terminals of the Odessa ports.
After that, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky proposed to Turkey and the UN to extend the “grain initiative” in a trilateral format. The state is considering the possibility of transporting food through the territorial waters of Romania and Bulgaria .
Source : RBC
