According to President Vladimir Putin, Russia is only halting its involvement in a contract to sell desperately needed Ukrainian grain through Black Sea ports.Putin made his first remarks since Moscow’s announcement on Saturday that it was suspending its participation in the UN-mediated Black Sea deal following what it claimed to be a significant drone strike by the Ukrainian government on its fleet in Crimea.
“We are not declaring that we will stop taking part in this operation. No, we are stating that it will be suspended “Putin stated during a live press conference.Putin said the Ukrainian drones had travelled through the same corridors the grain ships used.
And as a result, he continued, “they constituted a threat to both our ships, which must guarantee the security of grain shipments, and to the civilian ships that are engaged in this.” No one from Kiev has taken credit for the incident.
Despite Russia’s warnings that this was unsafe, other contract members went ahead and sent grain on Monday.Putin stated that in accordance with the provisions of the agreement, Russia is in charge of providing security, adding that Ukraine “must guarantee that there will be no threats to civilian vessels or to Russian supply vessels.”
