Russia has taken "fairly dramatic actions" since pulling out of the Black Sea grain deal and it would be "very hard at this point to get Russia back," according to David Harland, executive director of the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue.
"It's going to be very hard to get back Russia in the agreements. They've gone very far now," Harland, who helped broker the deal, told CNN.
Earlier Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the "continuation of the grain deal in the form in which existed has lost all meaning." The Russian Ministry of Defense also announced all ships sailing in the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports will be considered potential carriers of military cargo, starting Thursday.
"I am not at all optimistic. Having been involved in this from the very beginning, I think this is the worst moment," Harland said.
When asked about what options still remain on the table, and remarks by Ukrainian officials about the possibility to continue shipments through the Black Sea, Harland said it won't be possible without Russia's consent.
"Russia has to agree because Russia controls militarily the whole northern part of the Black Sea," he said. "So I think it has to involve Russia but at this point Russia is not cooperating, and in my view if there is going to be a new deal, Russia has done so much now to speak out against the agreement and to deny it, that any new deal will have to be of a different nature."
There may be a chance that Russia agrees to "humanitarian shipments" only, if pressured by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and leaders of countries facing huge food supply shortages, like nations in Africa, Harland said. But he added he doubts the initial deal can be revived.
"I doubt we are going to get back there. I think next time there will be a big deal, it will probably be in the context of the deal that ends the war," he said.
