UPDATE 1-Russia says Israeli firm caved in to Ukrainian pressure over disputed grain

Russia ​accused Israeli authorities on ‌Friday of ​caving in to pressure from Ukraine in a dispute over a ‌consignment of grain that was turned away from an Israeli port last month.

Ukraine says the grain in question was ‌stolen by Russia from regions of Ukraine that Moscow's ‌forces have seized in the war. In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry rejected what it called "the absurd and unsubstantiated claims made ⁠by ​the Ukrainian side".

It ⁠said it deplored the decision by the Israeli importing company not to ⁠allow the grain to be unloaded at the port ​of Haifa. "Moscow regretted this step, clearly taken under pressure from ⁠Kyiv," the statement said.

"This runs counter to the Israeli authorities' ⁠declared commitment ​to maintaining Russian-Israeli economic cooperation and threatens Israel's own food security." Ukraine said at the time that the ⁠fact the cargo had been turned away was a welcome ⁠development that ⁠showed the effectiveness of its legal and diplomatic actions.

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