US condemns missile attack on Ukrainian port of Odessa
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken condemned the missile attack on the Ukrainian port of Odessa, saying that the move "seriously casts doubt on the credibility of Russia's commitment to yesterday's agreement and undermines the work of the United Nations, Turkey and Ukraine to get vital food to global markets."
“Just 24 hours after finalizing an agreement to allow the resumption of Ukrainian agricultural exports across the Black Sea, Russia has breached its obligations to attack the historic port from which grain and agricultural exports will again be transported under this arrangement,” Blinken said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Russia for the attack.
Zelensky said on Saturday that "Russia always finds a way not to implement what it promises," referring to the agreement concluded Friday on the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.
In a video clip posted on the account of the Ukrainian president on the Telegram channel, in which a meeting with deputies in the US Congress appeared, Zelensky said that Russia has different possibilities for action, and Zelensky repeated during the meeting his demand to provide his country with heavy weapons in order to stop Russian attacks.
The Kyiv government announced that Russia bombed the important port of Odessa with missiles, one day after the signing of the agreement regarding the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.
Yesterday, Russia and Ukraine signed in Istanbul with Turkey, in the presence of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, an agreement to allow the export of grain from Ukraine again, and Russia pledged in the agreement to allow ships to pass through a sea lane and not to bomb them.
The agreement also included not allowing attacks on ports involved in export operations, including the port of Odessa, for example.
The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, provided for the control of grain exports through a control center in Istanbul.
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