Russia on Wednesday rejoined a deal to allow Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea but Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Moscow could pull out of the agreement again.
The revival of an agreement aimed at easing fears of global food insecurity came just as Washington warned it was “increasingly concerned” that Moscow could use nuclear weapons in its campaign in Ukraine.
Russia’s defence ministry said it had received “sufficient” guarantees from Kyiv that it would not use the maritime corridor to carry out attacks on Moscow’s military.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “warmly” welcomed Russia’s decision to resume participation in the agreement, which was brokered by the UN and Turkey in July and allows for joint inspections of ships.
President Vladimir Putin said Russia could leave the deal again if Ukraine “violates” its guarantees but would “not interfere” with any grain deliveries even if it did so.
The Ukrainian president’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak said Russia’s change of mind just days after announcing it was pulling out of the deal “puts an end to many years of Russian blackmail diplomacy”.
