U.S. Says Putin's Menacing Black Sea Grain Deal Is 'Another Effort To Weaponize Food'

Washington on Friday made it clear that it "would take great issue with" any talk of disrupting the Black Sea grain deal, TURAN's U.S. correspondent reports.

"Any talk of disrupting this agreement is essentially a statement that people should pay more for food; and it’s another effort of President Putin to weaponize food," State Department's Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told a daily press briefing when commenting on Russian President's renewed warning that the Kremlin might kill it.

Putin on Friday was quoted as saying, "If it turns out that humanitarian corridors are being used to commit terrorist acts, then, of course, this will call into question the functioning of this corridor,”

The Kremlin's statement came as it accused Ukraine of perpetrating a “terrorist act” after a fiery blast damaged a strategic bridge linking Crimea with Russia last week.

"This grain initiative has been a benefit. Desperately needed food and fertilizer has been able to flow from Ukraine’s ports and get to markets and countries that need it," Patel said when asked by TURAN's correspondent for comment.

"The world also, candidly, has benefited from access to Russia’s export of food and fertilizer, which have never been included in our sanctions. And so, on October 7th, the EU clarified this in formal guidance, and we welcome this step," he added.

Moscow’s repeated threats to kill the agreement come ahead of the expiry next month of a deal that struck in the midst of its war in Ukraine.

"We would take great issue with that," Patel said in response.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C