UN, Turkey Guaranteed Grain Corridor won’t be used for Kyiv’s Military Ops: Russia on Rejoining Deal

Russia rejoined a deal to allow Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea, after the UN and Turkey provided written guarantees that the "grain corridor" will not be used by Kyiv to conduct military operations against it.

"The Russian Federation considers that the guarantees received at the moment seem sufficient and resumes the implementation of the agreement - the Initiative for the Safe Transportation of Grain and Food from the Ports of Ukraine (the Black Sea Initiative),” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The deal was brokered by the UN and Turkey in July, bringing to an end a five-month Russian blockade of Ukrainian ports that trapped more than 9 million tons of grain and sunflower oil, and sent food prices soaring. Moscow suspended its participation in the landmark agreement on October 29, after Ukrainian UAVs allegedly hit ships of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and civilian vessels.

"Thanks to the participation of an international organization, as well as the assistance of Turkey, it was possible to obtain the necessary written guarantees from Ukraine on the non-use of the humanitarian corridor and Ukrainian ports, identified in the interests of the export of agricultural products, for conducting military operations against the Russian Federation, sent to the Joint Coordination Center on November 1, 2022,” the ministry said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia could leave the deal again if Ukraine violates its guarantees. Moscow had warned the route was dangerous for shipments without its participation in the agreement but some deliveries from Ukraine still went ahead on Monday and Tuesday.