Putin suspends a deal to allow grain exports from Ukraine

invaded Ukraine in February, it took hostage a big chunk of the world’s cereal trade. Russia’s naval blockade of Ukraine’s ports made it impossible for the world’s fifth-largest wheat exporter to ship its crops, driving up global food prices. In late July the and Turkey brokered a deal establishing safe corridors for ships from Ukraine through the Black Sea, and has since exported more than 9m tonnes of grain. But on October 29th Russia announced it was suspending the deal indefinitely. It claimed to be responding to a Ukrainian attack on its Black Sea fleet.