July 24, 2023 6:42 p.m
Mattarella: “Russian wheat decision is unfortunate and very serious”
“I read about your call for Russia to go back on its unfortunate decision to stop implementing the Wheat Agreement. A very serious decision with consequences for a number of countries where many people would find it difficult when it comes to food. This was stated by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, when he received the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, in the Quirinale. “His appeal is particularly important and today’s meeting is a fundamental reminder,” added the head of state.
July 24, 2023 at 6 p.m
Tajani: “Moscow is changing its mind about wheat, it’s harming millions”
“I hope that Moscow will reconsider its decision on wheat. Preventing shipments to Africa harms millions of people who have nothing to do with the war in Ukraine.” Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on the sidelines of the FAO (UN Institute for Organization and Agriculture) Food Security Summit in Rome. “I hope that Turkish mediation can achieve its goal and we call on Russia to give in.” If we don’t bring wheat and grains to Africa, we will put millions of people in trouble, we risk social tensions and increased migration flows,” Tajani added.
July 24, 2023 4:55 p.m
Ukraine: “Russia attacks grain storage on the Danube”
Russia has used 15 Iranian drones to attack a grain storage infrastructure at the Reni river port on the Danube on the border between Odessa Oblast and Romania, injuring four people. This was announced by the head of the regional administration, Oleh Kiper, via telegram. This is the land route for the export of Ukrainian grain, which is crucial after Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Safeguards Agreement. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis condemned the “very narrow” attack on his country on Twitter: “This latest escalation poses serious security risks in the Black Sea. It further affects the transit of Ukrainian grain and thus global food security,” he wrote on Twitter.
I strongly condemn the recent Russian attacks against Ukraine. civil infrastructure #Danube, very close to Romania????????. This latest escalation poses serious security risks to the region #Black Sea. It also affects further grain transit in the United Arab Emirates and thus global food security.
— Klaus Iohannis (@KlausIohannis) July 24, 2023
July 24, 2023 3:34 p.m
Meloni: “Russia should reconsider the wheat deal”
“The fact that Russia has withdrawn from the grain deal only exacerbates the grain security crisis. Russia is reconsidering its decision.” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said this at the UN summit on food systems
July 24, 2023 3:34 p.m
Guterres: “Russia returns to implement the wheat agreement”
“I appeal to the Russian Federation to return to implement the Black Sea Initiative in accordance with my latest proposal,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his speech at the FAO summit.
July 24, 2023 3:32 p.m
Guterres: “The most vulnerable will pay to stop the wheat deal”
“With the cessation of the Black Sea Grains Initiative, it will be the most vulnerable who will pay the highest price,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his speech at the FAO summit on Russia’s decision to break the agreement on wheat exports from Ukraine. “We are already seeing the negative impact on global wheat and corn prices, hurting everyone,” Guterres added, recalling that the agreement, along with the Memorandum of Understanding with the Russian Federation to facilitate Russian food and fertilizer exports, “has been a lifeline for global food security and global food price stability,” so much so that “food prices have fallen 23% from last year’s highs.”
July 24, 2023 3:22 p.m
France condemns Russian attacks on Odessa
France condemned “with the utmost determination the new series of Russian missile and drone attacks in the Odessa region, which resulted in numerous casualties and injuries, the destruction of a grain hangar and damage to the Transfiguration Cathedral”. This can be read in a statement from the Paris Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “By deliberately attacking civilian infrastructure and sites in a city that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site last January, Russia has committed a double violation of international humanitarian law,” French diplomats warn, adding: “As Foreign Minister (ed.) Catherine Colonna reminded yesterday, these raids constitute war crimes.”
July 24, 2023 2:08 p.m
Moscow: “We reserve the right to react to drone attacks”
“The Russian side reserves the right to take strict countermeasures,” the Russian foreign minister said in a statement published on his official website.
July 24, 2023 2:07 p.m
Medvedev: “Hiting unconventional targets like Kiev”
Moscow is expected to choose unconventional targets for its retaliatory strikes in response to Kiev’s attacks on civilian facilities. This was stated by Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev. “Our enemy was unsuccessful in his counteroffensive,” Medvedev wrote on Telegram. “It means he will seek victories in information, no matter how over the top and irrational they may be.” You really do make a lot of idiots happy in Ukraine, especially now that tensions are rising in Ukrainian society. Their Western supporters are also beginning to show impatience.” According to Medvedev, Ukrainians are therefore “increasingly choosing peaceful civilian targets for their heinous attacks. Everyone has to be ready for it. We must also choose unconventional targets for our attacks, not just deposits, power centers, and oil bases. There are other places where no one would expect us to hit and where the attacks would be felt the most.”