Russia using Black Sea as 'blackmail' says US ambassador to the UN

AFP English

The United Nations Security Council meets to discuss the Black Sea Grain Initiative after Russia exited the landmark grain deal that allowed the safe passage of cargo ships carrying Ukrainian grain from the country's ports. "Russia is simply using the Black Sea as blackmail;  it’s playing political games," Linda Thomas-Greenfield, United States ambassador to the UN, tells the Security Council.

Transcript

00:00 Russia is simply using the Black Sea as blackmail.

00:04 It's playing political games.

00:06 It's holding humanity hostage.

00:10 And the United States has information that the Russian military may expand its targeting

00:15 of Ukrainian grain facilities to include attacks against civilian shipping in the Black Sea.

00:22 Our information also indicates that Russia laid additional sea mines in the approaches

00:28 to Ukrainian ports.

00:30 We believe this is a coordinated effort to justify any attacks against civilian ships

00:36 in the Black Sea and lay blame on Ukraine for these attacks.

00:40 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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