The Russian Defense Ministry, in a statement posted on its Telegram channel this morning, announced that Russia has renewed implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, negotiated with Ukraine last July, with Turkish and UN mediation. “With the help of the international organization and Turkey, the necessary written guarantees from Ukraine on the non-use of the humanitarian corridor and Ukrainian ports designated for the export of agricultural products, for military operations against the Russian Federation were obtained and submitted to the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) on 1 November 2022,” the Russian statement said, after an introductory paragraph citing the Oct. 29 attack on vessels of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol and Russia’s bringing it to the attention of the UN security Council.
“The Ukrainian side, in particular, officially assured that ‘the maritime humanitarian corridor will be used only in accordance with the provisions of the Black Sea Initiative and the related JCC regulation,’” the statement continued.
The statement concludes: “The Russian Federation believes that the guarantees received at this time are adequate and resumes implementation of the agreement – the Initiative for the Safe Transportation of Grain and Food from Ukrainian Ports (the Black Sea Initiative) – which had been halted following the terrorist attack in Sevastopol.” (https://t.me/mod_russia/21420 )
