The United States on Wednesday condemned Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine’s grain infrastructure and said it was working with partners to explore alternative options for securing Ukraine’s grain exports.
“The United States … calls on Russia to immediately return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative,” Deputy Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Vedant Patil told a briefing, referring to an agreement restricting Ukraine’s grain exports through the Black Sea. . Russia withdrew from the agreement on July 17.
The US is “trying to find ways and corridors to get the grain to the right place,” Patel said, without giving details. He added that Washington saw no indication from the Russians that they wanted to back out of the deal.
Since ending the deal, Russia has attacked Ukraine’s agricultural and port infrastructure. Exports through the corridor have been vital in helping combat a global food crisis exacerbated by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials said air strikes last night destroyed silos and warehouses in Reni on the Danube River, a vital wartime food export route. They posted pictures of destroyed storage facilities and stacks of scattered grain and sunflowers.
“Putin doesn’t care about global food security,” Patel said, adding that Moscow’s attacks had exacerbated food shortages.
Moscow has repeatedly said it is ready to return to the agreement “immediately” once an accompanying agreement on Russian exports is implemented.
