President Vladimir Putin on Monday, September 4, expressed Russia’s willingness to engage in discussions regarding the reinstatement of the significant Black Sea grain export agreement. This statement came shortly after Moscow conducted military strikes on a crucial Ukrainian grain-exporting port overnight.
President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Russia was “open” to talks on restoring the landmark Black Sea grain export deal, hours after Moscow pounded one of Ukraine’s key grain-exporting ports overnight.
The UN and Turkey-brokered deal, which aimed to ensure safe navigation for civilian ships through the Black Sea, collapsed after Russia pulled out in July.
Moscow has since repeatedly attacked Ukraine’s port infrastructure in what Kyiv says is a cynical attempt to damage its exports and undermine global food security.
The Russian drone attack on Monday damaged a grain export hub on the Danube river, officials said, adding that warehouses and agricultural equipment were damaged.
The regional governor Oleg Kiper announced that air defense systems had downed 17 drones.
Hours later Putin met his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi, amid hopes the two could restore the deal, with Erdogan promising he would make a “very important” announcement on grain exports after the talks.
Ukraine’s military said Russia had used Iranian-made Shahed drones in the “massive” overnight attack.
The strikes come a day after Ukraine fought off a barrage of Russian drones in the same region, with Russia’s army claiming the assaults targeted fuel storage facilities in the nearby port of Reni.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
