By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Kremlin on Tuesday warned over attempts to reach a future agreement for the shipment of grain cargo from three Ukraine ports without the involvement of Moscow, saying it would amount to “risks”.
Kyiv had said it was prepared to continue grain exports despite the Russian withdrawal from the deal, a decision denounced by United Nations and western countries.
“Without appropriate security guarantees, certain risks arise here. If (a future agreement) is formalised without Russia, then these risks should be taken into account,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
He accused Ukraine of using the grain deal zone in the Black Sea for “combat purposes”.
The grain deal was last year brokered by the UN and Turkey.
It had enabled the export of more than 32 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain since it became effective.
After Moscow announced its exit from the deal on Monday, the United Nations expressed concern that the world’s poorest would “pay the price” and the US called the Russian exit “unconscionable.”
The Kremlin spokesman dismissed concerns arising from Russia’s exit, saying Moscow had extended the deal several times “despite the conditions of the agreement towards Russia not being realised”.
Moscow had for months complained that elements allowing the export of Russian food and fertilisers had not been honoured.
The Kremlin said it would honour a pledge made by President Vladimir Putin earlier this year that Russia would provide grain to “African countries most in need” for free should the grain deal not be extended.
“Of course, Russia maintains its position on this and we are in contact with African partners,” Peskov said.
“But to our common regret, we are talking about rather small amounts,” he warned.
He said this will be discussed with African officials at the Russia-Africa summit in Saint Petersburg next week.
