Andrei Rudenko, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, said on Sunday, 30 October, that Moscow might resume the Grain Initiative but only after the investigation of the attacks on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol. [The Black Sea Grain Initiative is an agreement brokered by the UN with Russia and Türkiye  launched on 22 July to enable ships to transport grain from Ukraine - ed.]

"We must, first of all, determine the circumstances of what happened [in Sevastopol - ed.]. This is absolutely outrageous, all terms that had been agreed earlier have been violated," Interfax Russia quotes Rudenko.

"That’s why only after all the details [of the attack on Russian ships - ed.] are established – and Russia is convening a UN Security Council meeting to discuss this issue – only then will we be in a position to discuss any further steps."

Russia announced the suspension of its participation in the implementation of the Grain Initiative on 29 October, claiming the "terrorist attack" in Sevastopol Bay on the morning of the same day as the reason. The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that the attack targeted Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, in particular ships involved in ensuring the security of the grain corridor.

The UN said that it had contacts with the Russian government since Russia’s announcement that it was exiting the Grain Initiative. The EU, the US and NATO called on Russia to resume its participation in the initiative, while Turkey has begun negotiations with Russia and hopes for their successful conclusion.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Russia has found a contrived reason to withdraw from the Grain Initiative; he explained that Russia has begun to take measures to disrupt the initiative long before its withdrawal.

It is worth mentioning that the Grain Initiative was supposed to be in force until November, but Russia has threatened to withdraw from the treaty if its demands were not met.