Ukraine sets new rules in Black Sea, which will be demilitarized – Defense Express expert

Valerii Riabykh, Development Director of the Defense Express information and consulting company, said this on Espreso TV. 

"Ukraine's Defense Ministry has provided an adequate response to Russia's actions. The areas where it is dangerous or forbidden to move have been declared. This is a blow to Russia, which did not expect such a step. Let's see how it can survive this step," he said.

Riabykh added that Ukraine currently has enough means to actively counter the Russian fleet.

"The Russian Black Sea Fleet ships have already launched the last strikes on Odesa from protected bays, fearing to go to sea. The attack on the Kerch bridge by the Defense Forces was remote. Observers say that in addition to the Neptune and Harpoon missiles, Ukraine has a number of 'kamikaze' drones that extend its range in the Black Sea. In addition to 'kamikaze' drones that float on the water surface, there are also combined drones that float at depth. They are very difficult to detect - they are very effective in countering enemy ships," the expert noted.

In his opinion, new conditions have now been created for confrontation in the Black Sea.

"It seems that soon we will be talking about other rules in the Black Sea. In the future, everything will go towards demilitarizing this sea and using it only for free trade. This will happen when this regime and the Russian aggression against Ukraine are over," Riabykh summarized.

Russia's termination of the grain deal

On 16 July, the last ship loaded with Ukrainian agricultural products under the initiative left the port of Odesa. On 17 July, Russia announced the termination of the grain deal. In response, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that it was necessary to continue using the grain corridor even despite Russia's withdrawal from the agreement. And Kuleba began urgent consultations at the UN.

The White House condemned Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal, which played a crucial role in reducing global food prices.

On 18 July, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there were "certain risks" for parties trying to resume the Black Sea Grain Initiative without Russia's participation.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that it was critical to restore transport links across the Black Sea to provide food to the world's most vulnerable countries and to preserve the ability to export Ukrainian goods.

On 19 July, it was reported that Ukraine was considering transporting food as part of the grain initiative through the territorial waters of Bulgaria and neighbouring Romania.

At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defence issued a statement threatening ships heading to Ukraine's Black Sea ports. On the same day, Putin named the conditions for Russia's return to the grain deal and demanded their immediate implementation

The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said that the only response to Russia's threats to fire on Ukrainian grain ships could be to increase military aid to Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense announced that starting July 21, all ships heading to the Black Sea in the direction of Russian seaports and Ukrainian ports in the temporarily occupied territory may be treated by Ukraine as military cargo.