Kremlin warns that pursuing grain deal without Russia is risky

Moscow [Russia], July 19: Following Russia's much-criticized decision not to renew an international deal enabling the export of grain from Ukraine, the Kremlin has warned the other participating states against trying to implement the agreement on their own.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that any attempts to continue the grain deal without Russia's participation will lead to risks because the grain corridor is close to the combat zone in Ukraine, state news agency TASS reported.
The war that has been raging in Ukraine since February 2022 made it almost impossible to export grain from the region viathe Black Sea, until the UN-brokered deal in July last year made it safe to do so. The deal expired on Monday.
"Certain risks appear there without relevant security guarantees. Therefore, if anything is formalized without Russia, these risks should be addressed. We cannot say in this regard to what extent and what countries are ready to assume such risks," Peskov said.
Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelensky had called for food exports to continue even without Russian approval. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune