More than 200 ships blocked by Russia’s decision to back out of grain deal, Ukraine says
The movement of more than 200 ships participating in United Nations-brokered grain export deal with Ukraine is blocked, Ukraine’s Ministry of Infrastructure said Sunday in its latest update.
It comes a day after Russia said it had decided to suspend its participation from the deal with Ukraine, following its claims that Kyiv ordered drone attacks on the Crimean city of Sevastopol.
“Due to the fact that as of October 30, the Ukrainian side does not have permission from the Joint Coordination Centre to pass through the safe corridor and conduct inspections, 218 vessels are actually blocked in their current positions,” the ministry said on its verified Facebook page.
Of these 218 ships blocked in their current positions, there are “95 loaded vessels that have already left Ukrainian ports and are waiting inspection for shipment to the final consumer,” the ministry said.
An additional 101 vessels are waiting for inspection at the entrance to Ukrainian ports and 22 loaded vessels are waiting to leave Ukrainian ports, it added.
Ukrainian President Zelensky called the decision of Russia to suspend its participation from the grain export deal with Ukraine “deliberate” and “a rather predictable statement” in his nightly address on Saturday.
World leaders have criticized Russia’s move, with the United States accusing the country of “weaponizing food.”
