Russia has announced its withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a global grain deal that allowed Ukraine to export grains and oilseeds through the Black Sea. Moscow claims that the deal’s conditions were not being met. This decision has raised concerns about the food supply for millions of people worldwide. The initiative was established last year as a breakthrough solution to the Ukrainian farmers’ struggle to sell their exports due to a Russian wartime blockade and the global cost of living crisis.
During peacetime, Ukraine is known as one of the world’s largest breadbaskets, producing enough food for 400 million people. However, the invasion of Russia led to a surplus of grain in storage and shortages in other countries. The Black Sea Grain Initiative provided relief by allowing Ukraine to export millions of metric tonnes of grain and oilseeds through the Black Sea. The agreement was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, and a Joint Coordination Center was established to monitor shipments.
Russia’s withdrawal from the deal is attributed to its claim that the deal’s conditions were being overlooked, as Western sanctions continue to target Russian individuals and the state agriculture bank, hindering its own exports. Russia also demanded readmission to the SWIFT international payment system, which was not fulfilled. Despite Russia’s withdrawal, the country stated that it would return to the deal once its demands were met.
The decision to withdraw from the deal came shortly after Russia accused Ukraine of damaging the Crimean Bridge. Moscow stated that these two events were unrelated, emphasizing that the withdrawal was due to unmet demands. The agreement was already facing challenges, with a decline in grain exports before Russia officially departed from the deal. The Russian Foreign Ministry blamed ongoing Ukrainian provocations and attacks in the Black Sea area and the failure to resolve Russian concerns for the withdrawal.
As a result of Russia’s withdrawal, Ukraine will explore alternative routes to transport exports, such as using the European Danube river. However, this will increase logistical costs for Ukrainian farmers. The international community is concerned about potential disruptions to global food supplies, and there are calls for pressuring Russia to reinstate the deal. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock described the withdrawal as shocking and urged other countries to join in pressuring Putin to reverse the decision.
The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, expressed disappointment with Russia’s decision, stating that it will have a detrimental impact on people in need worldwide. Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has pledged to discuss the situation with Putin. The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, warned of the profound chilling effect on food exports and the safety and security it provided to commercial shippers.
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