Russia accuses kyiv of using grain export corridor “for military purposes”

“Without proper security safeguards, certain risks arise.” Through the voice of its spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, the Kremlin warned on Tuesday 18 July against the continuation announced by Ukraine of its grain exports to the Black Sea. The agreement that allowed these deliveries through this channel expired Monday at 11 p.m. (French time). A few hours earlier, Moscow had announced not to renew it, recording its end “de facto”.

This maritime corridor in the Black Sea would be used by kyiv “for military purposes”despite the terms of the agreement, according to Moscow. “It is no longer a secret, it is a clear fact that this area is used by the Kiev regime for military purposes”, explained Dimitri Peskov to journalists. Odessa, one of the ports affected by the agreement, would thus have been used by Ukraine to carry out attacks “terrorists”according to the Kremlin.

Free grain for Africa?

His spokesperson also called it“shameless” the position of the European countries which, in his view, have not made it possible to fulfill the conditions of the agreement concerning Russia. Signed in July 2022 and renewed several times, this agreement has not made it possible to lift the obstacles and sanctions weighing on Russian exports of cereals and fertilizers, according to Moscow.

While according to the UN, “hundreds of millions of people will pay the price” of this rupture of the agreement, Russia assures that it is ready to export its cereals free of charge to the African countries which depend on it. The subject is on the agenda of the next Russia-Africa summit, scheduled for the end of July in Saint Petersburg.