We call on Russia to return to the negotiating table immediately — UK Foreign Secretary

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has called on Russia to "return to the negotiating table immediately."

The British minister said this during a debate at the UN General Assembly.

Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Initiative will result in more than 49 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain not being exported over the next year.

"This is a terrible blow to all people around the world. Russia's actions are taking food out of the mouths of the poorest people across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America," the minister said.

It will be recalled that Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov announced Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia was breaking agreements with the UN and Türkiye, and that Ukraine had no agreements with the Russian side.

Photo: AFP