Amidst the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, efforts to avert a global food crisis encountered a setback on Monday when Moscow withdrew from a UN-brokered agreement. In a conference call, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed journalists that the Black Sea agreements, which allowed the export of Ukrainian grain, were no longer considered valid. Interestingly, this development occurred just hours after Ukraine was accused of launching an attack on the Crimean Bridge. However, officials maintained that their decision was unrelated to the bridge incident, which tragically resulted in the loss of two lives and left their daughter injured.
Peskov explained, "The Black Sea agreements are no longer valid. Regrettably, the part pertaining to Russia has not been implemented, rendering its impact null and void."
The now expired deal was originally mediated by the United Nations and Turkey last July, enabling the safe export of Ukrainian grain that had been impeded by the conflict. Despite Russia's insistence for several months that the conditions for its continuation were not met, the agreement had been extended multiple times.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative has reportedly facilitated the export of 36.2 million tons of food from Ukraine since August of the previous year, with over half of this quantity being sent to developing nations, including those receiving assistance from the World Food Program. Often hailed as the "breadbasket of the world," Kyiv's suspension is anticipated to result in a temporary surge in food prices. It is worth noting that during the initial stages of the war, disrupted shipments had exacerbated a global food crisis and caused grain prices to skyrocket worldwide.
According to a report by the Associated Press, citing the International Rescue Committee, the grain deal serves as a "lifeline for 79 countries and 349 million individuals grappling with food insecurity." With climate change wreaking havoc across continents and devastating crops, many countries have become heavily reliant on imported food.
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