“I strongly condemn Russia’s cynical move to end it Black Sea Cereals Initiativedespite the efforts of the UN and Turkey” stresses the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in a tweet.

It also notes that “the EU is working to ensure food security for the world’s vulnerable. EU solidarity lanes will continue to bring agri-food products from Ukraine to global markets.”

Russia announced that it was suspending its participation in the international agreement on the export of grain through the Black Sea a few hours after the Ukrainian attack on the Crimean bridge.

The grain deal expires at midnight and Moscow has announced that “the agreement is de facto terminated”.