Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has changed its position since Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and is preparing to launch a blockade against Ukraine.
This was reported by the UK Ministry of Defense on July 26.
It is noted that the modern corvette “Sergiy Kotiv” was deployed in the southern part of the Black Sea. It patrols the transportation route between the Bosphorus and Odesa.
According to intelligence, there is a real possibility that the corvette will become part of a task force to intercept commercial vessels that Russia believes are headed to Ukraine.
Experts also believe that the Black Sea Grain Initiative has reduced the Black Sea’s involvement in the war. Now there is a real threat of an increase in the intensity and scale of violence in the region.
What is known about Russia’s withdrawal from the grain deal
On July 16, the last vessel loaded with Ukrainian agricultural products under the initiative left the port of Odesa. On July 17, Russia announced the termination of the grain deal. In response, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that it was necessary to continue using the grain corridor even despite Russia’s withdrawal from the agreement. At the same time, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba began urgent consultations at the UN.
The White House condemned Russia’s withdrawal from the grain deal, which played a crucial role in lowering global food prices.
On July 18, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced “certain risks” for the parties that try to resume the Black Sea Grain Initiative without Russian participation.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that in order to provide food to the world’s most vulnerable countries and preserve the ability to export Ukrainian goods, it is critical to restore transportation links across the Black Sea.
On July 19, it became known that Ukraine was considering transporting food as part of a “grain initiative” through the territorial waters of Bulgaria and neighboring Romania.
At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement threatening ships heading to Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.
On July 21, Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he wants to discuss the extension of the grain deal with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and expresses confidence that it will work again.
On July 22, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with a proposal to immediately convene the NATO-Ukraine Council due to the security crisis in the Black Sea.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote about his conversation with Stoltenberg on Telegram. It is noted that Zelenskyy and Stoltenberg discussed the implementation of the agreements reached during the Vilnius Summit of the Alliance, as well as further steps towards Ukraine’s integration into NATO.
On July 25, the Main Intelligence Directorate released a report to the Russian leadership, which outlined the technologies used by the Russians to prevent the export of Ukrainian grain, indicating a deliberate disruption of the grain deal.
