Here is the global reaction:
UNITED NATIONS SPOKESPERSON
“The Secretary-General (Antonio Guterres) unequivocally condemns the strikes reported today in the Ukrainian port of Odessa. Yesterday, all parties made clear commitments on the world stage to ensure the safe transport of Ukrainian cereals and related products to world markets. These products are desperately needed to address the global food crisis and alleviate the suffering of millions of needy people around the world. Full implementation by the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Turkey is imperative.”
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY
“It only proves one thing: no matter what Russia says and promises, it will find ways not to implement it (the grain deal).”
RUSSIA
A statement from the Russian Defense Ministry on Saturday describing the progress of the war made no mention of a strike in Odessa. The minister did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
HULUSI AKAR, TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTER
“They (Ukrainian officials) said that one of the missile attacks hit one of the silos there, and the other fell in an area near the silo, but there was no problem in the loading capacity and the capacity of the docks, which is important, and that the activities there can continue.
“The Russians told us that they had absolutely nothing to do with this attack, and that they were examining the matter very closely and in detail. The fact that such an incident took place immediately after the agreement that we concluded yesterday regarding the grain shipment really worried us.”
GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER ANNALENA BAERBOCK
“The cowardly missile attacks on the port of Odessa show that the signature of the Russian leadership counts for little at this time.”
US AMBASSADOR kyiv BRIDGET BRINK
“Outrageous. Russia strikes port city of Odesa less than 24 hours after signing agreement to allow agricultural export shipments. Kremlin continues to militarize food. Russia must be held accountable.”
JOSEP BORRELL, EU FOREIGN POLICY HEAD
“The EU strongly condemns the Russian missile strike on the seaport of Odesa. Hitting a crucial grain export target one day after the signing of the Istanbul Accords is particularly reprehensible and again demonstrates the total contempt of the Russia for international law and commitments.”
OLEG NIKOLENKO, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
“The Russian missile is Vladimir Putin’s spit in the face of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Recep Erdogan, who went to great lengths to reach an agreement and for whom Ukraine is grateful.”
HEAD OF OFFICE OF UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ANDRIY YERMAK
“The Russians are systematically creating a food crisis, doing everything to make people suffer. The terror of famine continues. The world must act. The best guarantees of food security are twofold: effective sanctions against Russia and more weapons to Ukraine.”