Russia Lost Allies By Nixing Grain Deal

By pulling out of a deal that allowed Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea, Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking a gamble that could badly damage Moscow’s relations with its partners that have stayed neutral or even been supportive of the Kremlin’s invasion of its neighbor, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Photo Insert: The Kremlin doubled down on terminating the grain deal by attacking Ukrainian ports and declaring wide areas of the Black Sea unsafe for shipping.

Russia also has played the role of spoiler at the United Nations, vetoing a resolution on extending humanitarian aid deliveries through a key border crossing in northwestern Syria and backing a push by Mali’s military junta to expel UN peacekeepers — abrupt moves that reflect Moscow’s readiness to raise the stakes elsewhere.

Putin’s goal in halting the Black Sea Grain Initiative was to win relief from Western sanctions on Russia’s agricultural exports.

His longer-term goal could be to erode Western resolve over Ukraine and get more concessions from the US.

The Kremlin doubled down on terminating the grain deal by attacking Ukrainian ports and declaring wide areas of the Black Sea unsafe for shipping. Putin’s actions not only threaten global food security but also could backfire against Russia’s own interests, causing concern in China, straining Moscow’s relations with key partner Turkey, and hurting its ties with African countries.

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