Trying to save grain deal

Reuters sources said on June 1 that the United Nations is trying to save the deal between Russia and Ukraine, which allows Kyiv to ship grain through Black Sea ports with a "mutually beneficial" proposal. As a first step in this plan, the UN proposes that Russia, Ukraine and the intermediary Turkey prepare for the transport of Russian ammonia through Ukrainian territory. The UN also calls on the parties to propose "radical improvements" to the operation of the grain corridor.

The UN wants to negotiate an expansion of the Black Sea agreement in exchange for this step, which would increase the number of ports Ukraine can use and the types of goods it can transport, the source said. Kyiv and Ankara have agreed to the new proposal, while Moscow has yet to respond.

Russia agreed this month to extend the deal by two months but said the initiative would end if the West did not lift its restrictions on Russian grain and fertilizer exports. Moscow also called on the parties to lift a ban on ammonia shipments through the Ukrainian port of Pivdennyi.

Asked about the report, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said negotiations were continuing. Ukraine said workers would need about 30 days to prepare the ammonia pipeline to resume pumping. A source said Kyiv would consider allowing Russian ammonia to transit through Ukraine if Moscow extended the grain deal.

US sends more aid to Ukraine

Meanwhile, on May 31, the US Department of Defense announced a new $300 million weapons package for Ukraine, including Patriot and Avenger air defense systems, Aim-7 and Stinger missiles, as well as 30 million rounds of ammunition and many other military equipment, according to The Guardian.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Washington has set ground rules for Kyiv, in which Ukraine cannot use Western weapons to attack Russian territory. According to Mr. Kirby, Ukraine has committed to this with the US.

However, on the same day, TASS news agency quoted Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov as saying that Washington's commitments were "worthless". According to Mr. Antonov, the new US military aid package is showing the country's indifference to Ukraine's actions.

Recently, Russia has continuously reported attacks inside its territory, most notably drone strikes in the capital Moscow and the border provinces of the two countries.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it had repelled three cross-border attacks near the town of Shebekino in Russia's Belgorod region on June 1. TASS quoted Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of Belgorod, as saying yesterday that the number of people injured in recent attacks in Shebekino had risen to eight. Kyiv has not commented but has previously denied responsibility for attacks inside Russia.

On the same day, June 1, the Ukrainian Air Force announced that its air defense forces had shot down all 10 ballistic and cruise missiles launched from Russia's Bryansk province in the 18th attack on the capital Kyiv since early May, according to Reuters. Moscow has not commented on this information.