Russia resuming participation in Black Sea Grain Initiative - Russian Defense Ministry

MOSCOW. Nov 2 (Interfax) - Russia is resuming participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The United Nations and Turkey have helped obtain written guarantees from Ukraine that Kiev will not be using the grain corridor for hostilities against Russia, the ministry said.

"The Russian Federation views the received guarantees as sufficient for now and is resuming the implementation of the agreement on the initiative for the safe transportation of grain and foods from Ukrainian ports (Black Sea Grain Initiative)," it said.

"Following the terrorist attack on Black Sea Fleet ships and civilian vessels providing the security of the grain corridor, which was perpetrated by Ukraine on October 29, Russia suspended the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative," the ministry said.

"The stance of Russia was relayed to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council," it said.

"The involvement of the international organization and the assistance of Turkey helped obtain the necessary written guarantees from Ukraine regarding the non-use of the humanitarian corridor and Ukrainian ports, designated for the exports of agricultural products, in the hostilities against the Russian Federation, which were forwarded to the Joint Coordination Center on November 1, 2022," the ministry said.

"In particular, the Ukrainian side gave formal assurances that the maritime humanitarian corridor would be used in strict compliance with the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the related regulations for the JCC," it said.