In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Western countries should address Russia’s demands to restore the Black Sea grain corridor. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said the recent strikes against port and grain infrastructure and threats of escalation at sea “are likely a part of a Kremlin effort to leverage Russia’s exit from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and exact extensive concessions from the West.”

President Vladimir Putin has promised to provide poor countries in Africa with free grain. Vershinin added that Russia will fulfill the needs of African countries despite the deal’s termination. “There is no longer a sea humanitarian corridor, there is a zone of increased military danger,” he told a news briefing. Vershinin said the Russian navy will inspect the vessels to make sure they aren’t carrying military cargo before taking any other action. The ministry said it would consider incoming vessels as laden with weapons and treat the country of its flag a participant in the conflict on the Ukrainian side.

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin clarified the Defense Ministry’s announcement earlier this week that Moscow has declared wide areas in the Black Sea dangerous for shipping.

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