A deal that has allowed Ukraine to ship some of its grain harvest from Black Sea ports inspite Russia’s ongoing invasion could be dismantled.
Russian President Vladimir Putin made the threat, as payback for last weekend’s attack on a key bridge.
Speaking at a summit in Astana, Putin said Russian intelligence had information that the explosives used on the bridge which links Russia to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, had been shipped by sea from Odessa.
“If it turns out that the humanitarian corridor for grain shipments was used for this, then we’ll close it,” he said, but noted that there is no proof yet of his allegation.
Meanwhile, the partial mobilisation of Russian troops for the war on Ukraine is expected to be completed in the next two weeks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.
Around 222,000 recruits had been called up so far with 300,000 the aim, Putin said at the end of a summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana.
He said 16,000 new conscripts were already on combat duty.
Putin, whose army suffered some heavy defeats during a Ukrainian counter offensive in September, also countered speculation that a second wave of mobilisation was planned.
Reports said there was a mass exodus of men from Russia after the first draft was announced including to Kazakhstan.
“No proposals have been received from the Defence Ministry in this regard and I do not see any need for the foreseeable future,” the Kremlin leader said.
