2 Nov 2022 15:37

UN welcomes resumption of Moscow's participation in grain deal

NEW YORK, UN. Nov 2 (Interfax) - Amir Mahmoud Abdulla, UN Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative at the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul, has welcomed the resumption of Russia's participation in the deal.

"I welcome the return of the Russian Federation to the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative to facilitate exports of food and fertilizer from Ukraine," Amir Abdulla said on Twitter on Wednesday.

He thanked Turkey for its assistance.

"Looking forward to working again with all parties in the Initiative," he said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier that the corridor for exporting grain from Ukraine was functioning again. Erdogan said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had earlier spoken on the phone with Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar to tell him that the shipment of agricultural products via the grain corridor would be resumed at noon on November 2.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that Moscow would suspend the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative until further notice in the wake of the Ukrainian drone attack on Black Sea Fleet ships in Sevastopol. After that, the Russian mission to the UN formally notified the UN secretary-general about Russia's suspended participation in the grain deal.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that Russia is resuming participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The ministry said that the United Nations and Turkey helped obtain written guarantees from Ukraine that Kiev will not be using the grain corridor for hostilities against Russia.