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Russia may quit grain deal, if Ukraine violates guarantees — Putin

The Russian leader drew attention to the fact that initially the purpose of the grain deal was to help the poorest countries

MOSCOW, November 2. /TASS/. Moscow reserves the right to withdraw from the grain agreements, if Kiev breaks its promise not to use the humanitarian corridor for military purposes, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of the Security Council on Wednesday.

He said that Kiev had given Moscow guarantees that it would not use the grain corridor for military purposes.

"I have given instructions to the Defense Ministry to resume our full participation in this endeavor. At the same time, Russia reserves the right to withdraw from these agreements, if these guarantees are violated by Ukraine," Putin stressed.

The Russian leader drew attention to the fact that initially the purpose of the grain deal was to help the poorest countries. For this a mechanism was created for the export of grain from Ukraine-controlled Black Sea ports. "Everyone knows that, unfortunately, Ukraine used this humanitarian corridor for an attempt to attack Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. For this reason, we decided to suspend our participation in these grain convoys," Putin said.

He explained that Moscow demanded from Kiev "pledges and guarantees that nothing like this will happen in the future and that the humanitarian corridors will not be used for military purposes."

Turkey acted as a mediator in settling this situation.

"The Defense Ministry has received information from the Turkish side that Ukraine has given such promises - these humanitarian corridors will not be used for military purposes," Putin said about Russia’s decision to re-enter the grain deal.