US President Joe Biden on Saturday called Russia’s decision to suspend its participation in an agreement to export grain from Ukrainian ports, vital to global food supplies, scandalous.
“It’s just outrageous. They had no reason to do this,” Biden said, speaking to the press after an early vote in the US midterm elections in Wilmington, Delaware.
Russia announced on Saturday it was suspending its participation in an agreement to export grain from Ukrainian ports following a drone attack (unmanned and remotely controlled aircraft) targeting the Russian fleet stationed in Sevastopol Bay in annexed Crimea.
The UN has said it is making efforts to save the deal, with Ukraine accusing Russia of “false pretext” for attacking Crimea to justify suspending the deal, pressuring Moscow to “keep up with its obligations.”
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An agreement struck in July under the auspices of the UN and Turkey allowed the export of several million tons of grain stored in Ukrainian ports after Russia’s invasion in February that sent food prices skyrocketing and raised fears of famine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stepped up his criticism of the deal, pointing out that the sanctions hurt exports from Russia, another major grain producer.
Crimea, annexed by Russia in March 2014 after the intervention of its special forces and a referendum condemned by Kyiv and the West, serves as the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and a rear base for the Russian offensive in Ukraine.
