The British Intelligence services stress that Moscow “has altered its position” in the area after its withdrawal from the grain agreement
MADRID, 26 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The intelligence services of the United Kingdom have affirmed this Wednesday that the Russian fleet in the Black Sea “has altered its position” since Moscow announced last week the end of the agreement for the export of grain from Ukrainian ports and have pointed out that it would be preparing to “apply a blockade on Ukraine”.
“The modern corvette ‘Sergei Kotov’ has been deployed in the southern Black Sea, patrolling the line of maritime transit between the (strait) of the Bosphorus and Odessa,” they said, before indicating that “there is a realistic possibility that it will form part of a group designed to intercept commercial vessels that Russia believes are destined for Ukraine.”
Thus, they have stressed that the Black Sea Grain Initiative had “moderated the involvement of the Black Sea in the war”, although they have stated that “now there is the potential to increase the intensity and scope of violence in the area”. , according to a statement published by the British Ministry of Defense through its account on the social network Twitter.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that the ship ‘Sergei Kotov’ had repelled an attack by two Ukrainian drones in the southwestern part of the Black Sea, some 370 kilometers from the port city of Sevastopol, located on the Crimean peninsula.
For his part, the Kremlin’s deputy spokesman, Yuri Ushakov, reiterated on Tuesday that Russia is willing to re-enter the agreement for the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports as long as its main demands are met. “The agreement has not been completely reduced, it has simply been suspended,” he said.
The Russian authorities communicated last week that they would not renew the agreement – ??signed in July last year with Ukraine and with the mediation of Turkey and the United Nations – considering that the part of the pact that benefited Moscow was not being fulfilled. Since then, the international community has criticized Moscow for a decision that they consider creates food instability throughout the planet, especially in those countries most vulnerable to food crises.