<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">The deal allowing Ukraine to safely export grain to global markets via the Black Sea expired at midnight in Istanbul (2100 GMT) after Russia refused an extension.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The deadline was set when the arrangement, brokered by the UN and Turkey in July 2022 to avoid food shortages in vulnerable countries, was last extended for two months in May.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 1rem;">The Kremlin on Monday said it was exiting the deal, having complained about its implementation for months.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"The grain deal has ended. As soon as the Russian part (of the agreements) are fulfilled, the Russian side will immediately return," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 1rem;">But President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was prepared to keep exporting grain via the Black Sea despite Russia's exit from the deal.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We are not afraid. We have been approached by companies that own ships. They said that they are ready" to continue shipments, Zelensky said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Moscow's announcement came hours after drones struck the only bridge connecting Russia's mainland to the annexed Crimea peninsula, a key supply line for Russian forces in the south of Ukraine.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kyiv's navy and SBU security service carried out the "special operation" using seaborne drones, a security service source told AFP.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Russian authorities said a civilian couple was killed and their daughter wounded in the attack on the Kerch bridge, which was also damaged last year in a blast Moscow blamed on Kyiv.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Moscow said the attack had nothing to do with its withdrawal from the grain deal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; - Crimea bridge blast -</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Local officials said traffic across the bridge had been halted and encouraged holidaymakers stranded in Crimea to drive home through occupied Ukraine.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned a "senseless crime" in televised remarks, vowing a "response" and calling for tighter security at the bridge.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Over the last year, the Black Sea Grain Initiative has enabled the export in cargo of more than 32 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Moscow's withdrawal could see Russian ships preventing grain exports by blockading Ukrainian ports, which occurred in the conflict's early months and helped drive up global food prices.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 1rem;">&nbsp;"The applications have not been approved by all parties," said a statement from the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) that oversees the agreement. "No new ships have been approved to participate since 27 June."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; The UN said a final ship carrying Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea was inspected in Istanbul on Monday, a few hours before the deal expired.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; Putin repeatedly threatened to pull out of the arrangement, arguing that elements of the deal allowing the export of Russian food and fertilisers had not been honoured.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; Moscow had notified Turkey, Ukraine and the UN that it was against extending the deal, Russian news agencies reported Monday, citing the foreign ministry.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; - 'Weaponising food' -</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said hundreds of millions of people facing hunger around the world would "pay the price" for Russia's withdrawal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; EU chief Ursula von der Leyen condemned a "cynical" decision, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia's "unconscionable" action was "weaponising food".</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; Guterres added that Russia's decision would not stop the United Nations' efforts to "facilitate the unimpeded access" to global markets of food and fertilisers from Ukraine and Russia.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; According to data from the JCC, China and Turkey are the main beneficiaries of the grain shipments, as well as developed economies.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; The deal has helped the UN World Food Programme bring relief to countries facing critical food shortages such as Afghanistan, Sudan and Yemen.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; The news had a limited impact on international wheat prices, which are down by nearly a quarter from one year ago.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; Guterres had been working hard to get the deal renewed and supported removing hurdles to Russia exporting its fertilisers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; - Fierce fighting -</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; Meanwhile, Ukraine was pushing ahead with its counteroffensive, with Kyiv on Monday saying its forces had retaken several square kilometres of territory around the eastern city of Bakhmut, which Russian forces seized in May.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; Bakhmut, once home to 70,000 people and known for its sparkling wine and salt mine, has been destroyed by the longest and bloodiest battle of the conflict.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; Kyiv last month began its highly anticipated fightback against entrenched Russian troops after stockpiling Western weapons and building up its offensive forces.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; But it has acknowledged slow progress and called on the United States and other allies to provide more long-range weapons and artillery.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; "People should understand what price we pay for (advancing)," a commander on the ground, "Bulat", told AFP. "There are a lot of enemies. We need time to grind them down." AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>