Since the end of the grain deal between Russia and Ukraine, both countries have increased attacks on each other’s merchant ships on the Black Sea. Russia has blocked the agreement since mid-July more frequently shelling Ukrainian ports and threatening cargo ships. As a gateway to the rest of the world, the Black Sea has immense strategic and economic importance for both Russia and Ukraine. But other countries with coasts on the Black Sea particularly the NATO members Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania also have interests there. Russia’s military centerpiece in the region is its Black Sea fleet, which has been headquartered in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol continuously since 1793. Will Russia allow grain deal to resume ?
