Russia suspends Ukraine grain deal over ship attack claim
Russia announced Saturday that it will immediately suspend its implementation of a U.N.-brokered grain deal that has seen more than 9 million tons of grain exported from Ukraine during the war and has brought down soaring global food prices. Ukraine accused Russia of creating a world “hunger games.” The Russian Defense Ministry cited an alleged Ukrainian drone attack Saturday against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet ships moored off the coast of occupied Crimea as the reason for the move. Ukraine has denied the attack, saying that the Russians mishandled their own weapons...
West urges Russia to reverse Ukraine grain deal suspension
Western governments are calling on Russia to reverse its decision to pull out of a UN-brokered grain deal, a move that undermines efforts to ease a global food crisis, with Ukraine saying Moscow had planned the move well in advance. The Turkey and UN-brokered deal was signed between Russia and Ukraine in July under which Moscow allowed the grain ships to leave Ukrainian Black Sea ports. The agreement has already allowed more than 9 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to be exported and was due to be renewed on November 19...
Global food concerns rise as Russia halts Ukraine grain deal
U.S. President Joe Biden has warned that global hunger could increase because of Russia’s suspension of a U.N.-brokered deal to allow safe passage for ships carrying Ukrainian grain. “It’s really outrageous,” said Biden speaking in Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday. “There’s no merit to what they’re doing. The U.N. negotiated that deal and that should be the end of it”...
And now other diplomatic news (there isn't really any good news):
German politicians criticise Switzerland over Ukraine ammo veto
Politicians in Germany have warned of consequences if the Swiss government does not allow the re-export of Swiss-made tank ammunition that Berlin wants to send to Ukraine, it has been reported. “It is completely incomprehensible that Switzerland is not reconsidering its position,” German Christian Democrat parliamentarian Roderich Kiesewetter, an influential member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, toldExternal link the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper on Saturday, regarding the current ammunition controversy between the two countries...
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Saturday with his counterpart in India about Russia's war on Ukraine among other issues, the State Department said. Blinken spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar about "regional and global issues, including counterterrorism cooperation and Russia’s continuing aggression against Ukraine," the department said in a release...
It will probably shake out where there are newer / stronger alliances between the authoritarian nations of the world. And also among the western more free nations.
Until there is some great economic reason to restore trade and political relationships.
It will probably shake out where there are newer / stronger alliances between the authoritarian nations of the world. And also among the western more free nations.
Until there is some great economic reason to restore trade and political relationships.
You think sanctions might've had an impact on this?
And not just recent sanctions; I'm talking about U.S. policy to impose sanctions with a view towards regime change. We've already seen greater cooperation between Iran and Venezuela during the Trump administration as it pursued "maximum pressure" campaigns on both states.
Turkey promises to keep grain moving despite Russian withdrawal
Turkey says it is determined that Ukraine continues its food exports despite Russia announcing its withdrawal from a UN-brokered grain deal, a move that has heightened concerns for nations desperate for food assistance. Russia pulled out of the deal on Saturday after what it said was a major Ukrainian drone attack on its naval fleet in annexed Crimea. Despite Moscow’s decision, cargo ships set sail carrying 354,500 tonnes of grain, the most dispatched in one day since the programme began in August...
Wheat and corn prices jump after Russia quits Black Sea grain deal
Prices of wheat and corn on global commodities markets rose on Monday after Russia pulled out of a deal that had allowed some vital grain exports from Ukraine to pass through the Black Sea despite the war. Wheat futures on the Chicago Board of Trade jumped 5.5% on Monday to $8.74 a bushel. Corn futures were up 2.3% to $6.96 a bushel. Palm oil futures trading in Malaysia also rose, Reuters reported, on fears over the potential impact on exports of Ukrainian sunflower oil...
Ukraine says 12 ships loaded with grain left its Black Sea ports on Monday, despite Russia's withdrawal from a key deal facilitating exports. A senior Ukraine official said one of the vessels with 40,000 tons of grain was for Ethiopia "who faced the real possibility of mass starvation". Ukraine earlier accused Russia of "blackmailing the world with hunger"...
And a story on Russia's economy and trade from the New York Times:
How Russia Pays for War
After the invasion of Ukraine, countries vowed to sever economic ties with Russia and imposed sanctions that were intended to cripple its economy. But as one of the most important producers of oil, gas and raw materials that power cars, warm homes and supply factories all over the globe, Russia has had longstanding and lucrative trade partnerships. Breaking those ties is not easy... That has led to a frustrating reality for Western officials who had hoped to undercut Russia’s war effort by punishing its economy: The value of its exports actually grew after it invaded Ukraine, The Times analysis shows, even in many countries that have taken an active role in opposing Russia...
Ukraine's FM criticizes Israeli politicians who boasted about friendships with Putin
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed tacit criticism about Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu for his rhetoric on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and his attitude towards Russian President Vladimir Putin during his time as Israel’s prime minister...
European Allies Question Whether They Can Count On Germany
At a moment when Germany's allies seek reassurance and leadership, even its closest partners wonder aloud about its commitment to European solidarity. Although Germany has long been Europe's de facto leader, it has been slow to provide serious military equipment to Ukraine. It has also subsidized its own citizens' energy bills while working to water down a price cap on gas that could alleviate pain in poorer countries of the European Union...
European allies worry U.S. could dial back support for Ukraine
U.S. allies in Europe are growing increasingly concerned that the united front presented by the West in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine could quickly unravel if Republicans are victorious in next week's midterm elections, ceding an advantage to President Vladimir Putin just when Ukraine is making progress on the battlefield. In the eight months since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a rare level of transatlantic consensus has taken hold over the need to support Ukraine. Collectively, Ukraine's allies have pledged over $93 billion in military, financial and humanitarian assistance, with the lion's share of that promised by the United States...
"...it's my guess that continuing the adoption of masks, social distancing, and even lockdowns will be vital in preserving the human race against covid."
Russia’s defense minister has told his Turkish counterpart that Moscow has agreed to return to a Turkish and U.N. brokered deal that allowed the shipment of millions of tons Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, Turkey’s president says. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar that the deal for a humanitarian grain corridor would “continue in the same way as before” as of noon Wednesday...
Russia has said it will rejoin a UN-backed agreement to allow the export of grain from Ukraine via a safe Black Sea corridor, with shipments expected to resume on Wednesday. Russia’s defence ministry confirmed that Moscow would again participate, saying it had received “sufficient” guarantees from Kyiv that it would not use the maritime corridor for military operations against Russia...
And debated whether to put this here or the Afghanistan thread:
US-trained Afghan commandos join Russian campaign in Ukraine
According to two key reports by Foreign Policy and Associated Press this week, Afghan commandos trained by the United States military during our war there are going to fight Ukrainians on behalf of a Russia for $1500 a month. “They don’t want to go fight — but they have no choice,” said one of the former Afghan generals who spoke to the AP, emphasizing the fear the commandos have of being deported back to Afghanistan. “They ask me, ‘Give me a solution. What should we do? If we go back to Afghanistan, the Taliban will kill us’”...
G7 wants Russia to extend the grain deal (which is set to expire this month), and it looks like Russia has a price for that:
Russia seeks sanctions exemptions for state bank in Ukraine grain deal talks
Russia wants the West to ease restrictions on state lender Rosselkhozbank to facilitate Russian grain exports, according to four sources familiar with the request, made during talks to extend a deal on food shipments from Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin has reserved Russia's right to halt the agreement, while the United Nations is pushing Moscow to agree to extend the pact before it expires on November 19...
U.S. privately asks Ukraine to show it’s open to negotiate with Russia
The Biden administration is privately encouraging Ukraine’s leaders to signal an openness to negotiate with Russia and drop their public refusal to engage in peace talks unless President Vladimir Putin is removed from power, according to people familiar with the discussions. The request by American officials is not aimed at pushing Ukraine to the negotiating table, these people said. Rather, they called it a calculated attempt to ensure the government in Kyiv maintains the support of other nations facing constituencies wary of fueling a war for many years to come...
Tens of thousands of Italians marched through Rome on Saturday calling for peace in Ukraine and urging Italy to stop sending of weapons to fight the Russian invasion. "No to war. No to sending weapons", read one large banner carried by protesters, as a vast crowd broke into cries of "give peace a chance"... The peace rally was attended by some 30,000 people, Rome police told Italian media...
Kremlin declines to comment on reported Ukraine de-escalation talks with US officials
The Kremlin on Monday declined to comment on a Wall Street Journal report that Washington held undisclosed talks with top Russian officials about avoiding further escalation in the Ukraine war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that while Russia remains “open” to talks, it is unable to negotiate with Kyiv due to its refusal to hold talks with Russia. The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan held undisclosed talks with top Russian officials in the hope of reducing the risk the war in Ukraine spills over or escalates into a nuclear conflict...
I would be delighted if Europeans in gene and the UK in particular were supporting Ukraine at relative levels to the US.
Not sure what your point is.
And that shirt is terrible with your skin tone.
You need something darker; maybe a fine corduroy?
My point is the American people are going to get tired of subsidizing European sloth and cowardice. It's only a matter of time before we start cutting off funding to Ukraine.
Reply #48 Post by thecitizen
"Men usually don’t report rape. Many young boys don’t report it because they like it. "
"...it's my guess that continuing the adoption of masks, social distancing, and even lockdowns will be vital in preserving the human race against covid."
I would be delighted if Europeans in gene and the UK in particular were supporting Ukraine at relative levels to the US.
Not sure what your point is.
And that shirt is terrible with your skin tone.
You need something darker; maybe a fine corduroy?
My point is the American people are going to get tired of subsidizing European sloth and cowardice. It's only a matter of time before we start cutting off funding to Ukraine.
So Americans are remarkably petty and will cut off their noses to spite their faces.
My point is the American people are going to get tired of subsidizing European sloth and cowardice. It's only a matter of time before we start cutting off funding to Ukraine.
So Americans are remarkably petty and will cut off their noses to spite their faces.
Got it.
That is according to him, which doesn't mean much.
My point is the American people are going to get tired of subsidizing European sloth and cowardice. It's only a matter of time before we start cutting off funding to Ukraine.
So Americans are remarkably petty and will cut off their noses to spite their faces.
Got it.
Petty? You're a bunch of leeches completely dependent on the US for defense against the "mighty" Russians.
You should be paying us taxes.
Reply #48 Post by thecitizen
"Men usually don’t report rape. Many young boys don’t report it because they like it. "
"...it's my guess that continuing the adoption of masks, social distancing, and even lockdowns will be vital in preserving the human race against covid."
