Ukraine war: Attacks on Odesa port ‘split in the face’ by Russia after grain deal | World News

Less than 24 hours after Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement to reopen Black Sea ports to resume grain exports, a volley of rockets was fired at the port of Odesa.

“The enemy attacked the Odesa sea commercial port with Kalibr cruise missiles,” Ukraineof the army, two more were shot down while another two hit “port infrastructure”.

RussiaThe Ministry of Defense has not claimed responsibility for the attacks, after signing a landmark agreement to prevent an international food crisis.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry said the attacks were a “spit in the face” of Turkey and the United Nations, which less than a day earlier had brokered the deal in Istanbul.

Read more: Disappearing ships – a massive Russian plunder

Footage of the attack shared on social media showed at least one coastal building ablaze near a container ship with thick black smoke rising from the flames.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Saturday said the country “strongly condemns” the attacks on the port, adding that Russia has “violated grain agreement commitments” and “undermined Union work.” United Nations, Turkey and Ukraine to obtain important food. world markets”.

Blinken also said that Russia would be held accountable for deepening the global food crisis.

US Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, wrote on Twitter: “Disgusting. Russia attacked the port city of Odesa less than 24 hours after signing an agreement to allow the export of agricultural products. The Kremlin continues to weaponize food. Russia is responsible.”

UN Secretary-General Antonia Guterres – who also signed an agreement to open up exports from the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhne at a ceremony in Istanbul – “unequivocally” condemned the strikes, according to a UN spokeswoman.

“These products are essential to solving the global food crisis and alleviating the suffering of millions of people globally in difficulty. The Russian Federation, Ukraine and Turkey are required to do so. fully,” the statement added.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, tweeted: “That’s all you need to know about dealings with Russia.”

The attacks followed a blockade of Ukrainian ports by Russia’s Black Sea fleet that cut off supplies of grain and other food products around the world and sent global prices soaring.

In signing the agreement, Mr Guterres said it would benefit developing countries “on the brink of bankruptcy and the most vulnerable on the brink of starvation”.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the deal would reduce global food inflation, as the war affected “all of humanity”.

Here’s a breakdown of the landmark deal:

• Objective – agreement to help prevent hunger by putting more wheat, sunflower oil, fertilizer and other products on world markets
• Time frame – the agreement is in effect for 120 days and the UN is expected to be extended unless the war ends by that time
• Safe path – agreement to ensure the safe passage of Odesa and two other Ukrainian ports in what the official called a “de facto ceasefire” for covered ships and facilities
• Joint Coordination Center (JCC) – The JCC in Istanbul will monitor all ship movements and inspections, and decide whether a vessel will deflect the agreed channels in the Black Sea.
• Test – In light of Russia’s concerns about ships delivering weapons to Ukraine, all returning ships will be inspected at a Turkish port
• Insurance – To ease the concerns of marine insurers, the United Nations spent more than two months negotiating with the sector to ensure the plan was commercially viable.

According to the head of MI6, the agreement and the strikes come in the context of Russia “going to run out of strength” in Ukraine.

Richard Moore said the President Vladimir PutinIts troops will have to “pause” as they struggle to find more troops and equipment to send to the front lines in eastern Ukraine in the coming weeks.

This will allow the Ukrainian military to “strike back” to what the UK is spreading said to be a “winnable war”.