Russia reserves the right to withdraw from the grain deal if Kyiv breaks promises not to use the humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea for military purposes.
This was stated by President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking at an operational meeting with the Security Council of the Russian Federation, the head of state recalled with regret that the Kyiv regime used the humanitarian corridor provided under the agreements to attempt to strike at the Russian Black Sea Fleet, after which Moscow decided to suspend participation in the deal.
“We demanded assurances and guarantees from the Ukrainian side that nothing like this would happen in the future, that humanitarian corridors would not be used for military purposes.
Our Turkish partners acted as mediators in clarifying this situation, and information was received from the Turkish side through the Ministry of Defense that such assurances were given by Ukraine that these humanitarian corridors would not be used for military purposes,” the President said.
He said that in this regard he gave instructions to the Ministry of Defense to resume the full participation of the Russian side in the export of grain.
“At the same time, Russia reserves the right to withdraw from these agreements if these guarantees are violated by Ukraine,” Putin added.
Meanwhile, the Russian leader pointed out that even if the Russian Federation withdraws from the deal, Russia is ready to supply grain to the world's poorest countries.
According to him, the grain deal was carried out under the pretext of ensuring the interests of the food security of the poorest countries, but they received only 4% of grain from the territory of Ukraine, while 46% went to the EU states.
“So, if in the future, if Ukraine violates its obligations, we withdraw from this agreement, we will supply the entire volume that has so far been delivered from the territory of Ukraine to the poorest countries free of charge,” the President of Russia explained.
On November 2, Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that after contacts with Vladimir Putin, as well as negotiations between the Turkish and Russian defense ministers, an agreement had been reached on the restoration of the grain corridor.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that thanks to the participation of an international organization and the assistance of Ankara, it was possible to obtain the necessary written guarantees from Ukraine on the non-use of the humanitarian corridor and Ukrainian ports for combat operations against Russia.
“The Russian Federation considers that the guarantees received at the moment appear to be sufficient, and resumes the implementation of the agreement - “Initiative for the safe transportation of grain and food from the ports of Ukraine,” the message says.
At the same time, Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Vahit Kirisci thanked the Russian side for returning to the deal: "The world is breathing again."
In turn, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko noted that the decision to extend the grain deal after November 18 would be made "taking into account all the accompanying facts."
“The main one is that the deal that was concluded with the UN, Ukraine and Turkey be implemented in full, its Ukrainian and Russian parts.
Unfortunately, we see a big disproportion here.
The Russian part is being implemented very badly.
We will take this into account, ”RIA Novosti quotes him.
Russia is returning to the grain deal in order to prevent a food crisis and famine in developing countries, said Leonid Slutsky, head of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs.
“This whole situation very clearly demonstrates who is really acting on the world stage based on humanistic considerations, and who is trying to cynically use humanitarian corridors, helping neo-Nazis to carry out sabotage,” he wrote in his Telegram channel.