U.S. declines to support WTO statement condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine

Reuters reports this, citing an anonymous diplomat and a representative in Geneva.  

This marks the first time Washington has not supported the statement, which has been signed annually since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.  

The news agency adds that this move is "another signal of a dramatic shift in ties with Russia."  

The WTO statement was signed by 44 members, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.  

"We are gravely concerned about the consequences of this destruction for Ukraine and for global trade in particular with regard to the supply to international markets of a number of key commodities produced by Ukraine, including agricultural and food products, fertilizers, and critical minerals", the document stated.

• The U.S. State Department is preparing a list of exceptions to the blocked foreign aid to Ukraine, which will allow access to certain economic and security support currently suspended.