Ukraine: Russian strikes on Odessa, Kyiv accuses Putin of “spitting” in front of the world

Russian strikes targeted the port of Odessa on Saturday, said Ukraine, which accused Vladimir Putin of “spitting in the face” of the United Nations and Turkey, and of compromising implementation of the signed agreement, which it is monitoring over the resumption of grain exports banned by the government. war.

Odessa is the largest city and the most important port on the entire Black Sea coast, and therefore essential for the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports.

“He spat in the face of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Recep (Tayyip) Erdogan, who made tremendous efforts to achieve this agreement,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said, firing cruise missiles at the port of Odessa. .

Guterres said in a statement that he “unequivocally condemns” the attacks, stressing that “the full implementation (of the agreement) by the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Turkey is imperative.”

For his part, the EU’s head of diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said, “Reaching a crucial grain export target one day after the signing of the Istanbul Accords is particularly reprehensible and shows once again Russia’s complete disregard for international law and obligations.” Twitter.

Ukraine has warned that Russia will bear “full responsibility” if the grain export deal fails.

Spokesman for the Odessa region administration, Sergey Brachuk, said that two of the cruise missiles were shot down by the anti-aircraft defense.

– hits in the middle –

Central Ukraine was not spared from the resumption of Russian strikes on Saturday, which killed three people, after a lull in fighting focused on Donbass (east).

Its governor, Andrei Rykovich, announced the fall of 13 Russian cruise missiles launched from the sea near the town of Krupivnitsky located in the Kirovograd region (center), explaining the targeting of the railway infrastructure and the military airport.

Ahead of the strikes on Odessa, the African Union had “welcomed” the agreement on grain exports on Saturday, praising the “welcome development” of the continent facing the growing threat of starvation.

The agreement should allow the export of between 20 and 25 million tons of grains withheld in Ukraine.

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia – two countries that provide notably 30% of world wheat exports – pushed up grain and oil prices, severely hurting the African continent, which is heavily dependent on these countries for its supplies.

This price hike has exacerbated the situation of countries already facing a food crisis, particularly in the Horn of Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti) which is experiencing the worst drought in 40 years.

– ‘United Nations responsibility’ –

The price of wheat fell on Friday after the agreement, until it returned to its pre-war price in the American market (Chicago), while in the European market (Euronext), it remained about 16% above the price of ‘before Russia’ on February 24. Invasion of Ukraine.

This heavily negotiated text was signed under the auspices of the United Nations and Ankara in Istanbul, in the presence of Antonio Guterres and President Erdogan in particular.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu confirmed shortly afterwards that the conditions were in place for its implementation “in the coming days”.

Washington, which supports Ukraine against Russian aggression, blamed Moscow for the operation’s success. “It is now up to Russia to concretely implement this agreement,” Victoria Nuland, No. 3 in US diplomacy, emphasized.

Ukraine has shown itself to be cautious.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday evening that it was now the “UN responsibility” to ensure compliance with the agreement, saying he expected “provocations and attempts to discredit Ukrainian and international efforts.”

He welcomed, however, that “the agreement is fully consistent with Ukraine’s interests,” adding that the Ukrainian military would continue to control “100% of access to the ports,” which Russia initially demanded be removed.

– ‘Secured lanes’ –

A United Nations official explained that the main action resulting from the agreement is the creation of “safe corridors” to allow the passage of merchant ships in the Black Sea, which Moscow and Kiev pledge not to “attack.”

It will be valid for “120 days”, which is the time to extract the nearly 25 million tons accumulated in silos in Ukraine while the new harvest is approaching.

But negotiators have given up on clearing the Black Sea of ​​mines – which were laid mainly by Ukrainians to protect their coasts. The United Nations said the “Ukrainian pilots” would clear the way for cargo ships in territorial waters.

As for the inspections of ships departing from and heading to Ukraine, which Russia has demanded to prevent their use in bringing weapons, they will be carried out at the ports of Istanbul.

A few hours before the signing, the Kremlin stressed that if Ukrainian grain is to reach world markets, it is also necessary to “allow markets to receive additional quantities of fertilizer and grain” from Russia, whose exports have been halted due to Western sanctions. You have obtained assurances that these penalties will not apply directly or indirectly to these products.