Russian Actions in Response to Black Sea Grain Deal and Potential Threats

 

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Russia's Actions in Response to Black Sea Grain Deal and Potential Threats

Russia's defence ministry announced on Wednesday its decision to consider all ships traveling to Ukraine as potentially carrying military cargo on behalf of Kyiv.

According to the ministry, "the flag countries of such ships will be considered parties to the Ukrainian conflict."

The new stance towards ships in the Black Sea would be implemented from midnight Moscow time (21:00 GMT Wednesday).

The announcement did not specify the actions Russia might take towards these ships.

Declaration of Black Sea's International Waters as Temporarily Unsafe

In addition to its stance on ships, Russia declared southeastern and northwestern parts of the Black Sea's international waters temporarily unsafe for navigation.

However, the ministry did not provide specific details about which parts of the sea would be affected.

Ukraine's Temporary Shipping Route via Romania

Ukraine responded to the situation by establishing a temporary shipping route through Romania, one of its neighboring Black Sea countries.

The purpose of this route, as stated by Vasyl Shkurakov, Ukraine's acting minister for communities, territories, and infrastructure development, is to facilitate the unblocking of international shipping in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.

This move comes amid rising tensions with Russia and disruptions caused by Moscow's withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal.

Accusations and Warnings from the US and UN

The US and UN officials have expressed concerns over Russia's actions.

A senior White House official stated that Russia was considering attacking civilian ships in the Black Sea and placing the blame on Ukrainian forces.

The White House also accused Russia of laying additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports, leading to fears that these actions were intended to justify attacks on civilian ships.

Furthermore, the US State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, accused Russia of using food as a "weapon of war," with threats made against ships in international waters and attacks on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa for two consecutive nights.

Russia's Exit from the Black Sea Grain Deal

Last year, Ukraine's Black Sea ports were blockaded by warships during the beginning of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The situation was eventually resolved with the help of the UN and Turkey through the Black Sea grain deal, which reopened Ukraine's ports for the export of Ukrainian grain to global markets.

However, the Kremlin recently withdrew from the deal, citing alleged non-compliance with a related agreement that allowed for the export of Russian food and fertilizers.

The international community condemned Russia's withdrawal, as it raised concerns about the impact on grain and food prices, especially for poorer countries in Africa that depend on Ukrainian grain.

Odesa Under Attack and Destruction of Grain Infrastructure

Odesa, a critical port city for Ukrainian agricultural exports under the now-defunct grain agreement, experienced a massive missile and drone attack for two consecutive nights.

Port facilities, including a grain terminal and a cooking oil terminal, were hit, along with storage tanks and ship-loading facilities. Storage buildings in the Odesa city area were also destroyed.

The attacks reportedly destroyed around 60,000 tonnes of grain, leading to accusations from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Moscow was deliberately targeting the grain agreement infrastructure after its withdrawal from the deal.

Conclusion

The situation in the Black Sea remains tense, with Russia's actions affecting international shipping and food supplies.

The withdrawal from the grain deal and attacks on Ukrainian ports have raised concerns about the impact on global food prices and the safety of civilian ships in the region.

International involvement and assistance may be crucial to deescalating the situation and providing support to Ukraine in its efforts to protect its ports and bolster its air defenses.

(Courtesy: Al-Jazeera)