Ukraine says Black Sea grain deal risks being shut down

On Monday, Kyiv warned that Russia’s blockade of ship inspections in Turkish waters could “shutdown” a U.N.-brokered grain export operation.

After Russia’s invasion last year, three Ukrainian Black Sea ports were opened last July under a UN-Turkey-brokered accord between Moscow and Kyiv.

Last month, the deal was extended to address a worldwide food crisis, but Ukraine warned the number of cargo ships bringing Ukrainian agricultural products across the Bosporus was severely low.

“For the second time in 9 months of operation of the Grain Initiative, an inspection plan (for participating vessels) has not been drawn up, and not a single vessel has been inspected,” Ukraine’s reconstruction ministry wrote on Facebook under the headline “Grain initiative under threat of shutdown.”

Bridget Brink, the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, tweeted that over 50 ships were waiting to go to Ukrainian ports “to load grain that will feed those who need it.”

Russia did not respond to Brink’s or the ministry’s comments, but the Kremlin stated grain agreement renewal prospects were “not so bright”.

Moscow claims a separate U.N. pact to aid food and fertilizer exports is failing.

Ukraine’s reconstruction ministry said Russian representatives in a Joint Coordination Center were implementing a “unacceptable” vessel inspection plan that violated the initiative.

It said Russian inspectors had rejected three vessels without explanation in the past three days.

“Ukraine categorically rejects Russia’s latest demands and opposes its interference in the operation of Ukrainian ports,” the ministry added.