African Union calls on Russia to restart Ukrainian grain deal – media

The 55-nation African Union called on Russia to reinstate a United Nations-brokered deal allowing Ukraine to export grain blocked in the Black Sea ports by Russian troops, said Comoros President Azali Assoumani in an interview with propaganda media outlet RIA Novosti. "The problem of grains and fertilizers concerns everyone," he said in St. Petersburg, where Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting a summit with African leaders, according to Politico. On 17 July, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced Russia’s suspension of the Black Sea grain agreement, signed in the summer of 2022 to unblock the export of Ukrainian grain.

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Two days after the announcement, Russia launched the most massive-yet attack on Odesa using Kh-22 and Oniks cruise missiles which targeted a grain and oil terminal.

Russia launches largest-yet attack on Odesa; port, grain instrastructure hit

At the summit, Putin promised to deliver up to 300,000 tons of free Russian grain which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called a "handful of donations.” Assoumani said this might not be enough, and what was needed was a ceasefire, Reuters informed.