By Oyintari Ben
Russia announced on Wednesday that it would resume its involvement in a pact to allow crucial grain shipments from the war Ukraine after suspending it over the weekend in a move that threatened to worsen hunger throughout the world.
According to the Russian defence ministry, Kiev had given formal assurances not to conduct military operations against Russia via the Black Sea grain corridor.
The statement from the ministry read, “The Russian Federation deems that the guarantees acquired at this time look sufficient, and restarts the implementation of the agreement.”
According to prior statements made by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu informed his Turkish counterpart that the grain arrangement negotiated by Turkey and the United Nations on July 22 will remain in effect as of Wednesday’s midday.
As of 12 (pm) today, the grain transports would proceed as previously arranged, according to Erdogan.
Over the weekend, Russia withdrew from the agreement, claiming that an attack on its navy there made it impossible for it to ensure the safety of civilian ships travelling through the Black Sea. Ukraine claimed that was a fabrication.
Despite the stoppage, ships are still transporting Ukrainian grain along the route, but this was unlikely to last for very long because insurance firms were refusing to sign new contracts as a result of Russia’s action, according to sources in the business.
