Russia halts war deal that allows Ukraine grain export

Dmitry Peskov

Russia halted an unprecedented wartime deal on Monday that allows grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger is a growing threat.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced Russia would suspend the Black Sea Grain Initiative until its demands to get its own agricultural shipments to the world are met - even though the country has been shipping record amounts of wheat and its fertilizers also have been flowing.

"When the part of the Black Sea deal related to Russia is implemented, Russia will immediately return to the implementation of the deal," Peskov said. Russia has complained that restrictions on shipping have hampered its exports of food and fertilizer - also critical to the global food chain.

This marks the end of a breakthrough accord that allowed food to leave the Black Sea region after Russia's invasion. The deal provided assurances that ships won't be attacked entering and leaving Ukrainian ports.

Attack on Crimea military supply bridge kills two

A child was also injured in the attack by drones. Pic/AP

Vehicle traffic on the single bridge that links Russia to Moscow-annexed Crimea and serves as a key supply route for the Kremlin's forces in the war with Ukraine came to a standstill Monday after one of its sections was blown up, killing a married couple and wounding their daughter. Rail traffic across the 19-km-long Kerch Bridge also stopped but resumed after six hours. The strike was carried out by two Ukrainian drones.

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