On Monday, Russia opted out from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which will impact the grain flow from Ukraine to regions in Africa, Middle East and Asia, where hunger and rising food prices are pressing concerns. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the nation will resume the deal once their demand concerning its food and fertilizer exports are met.
Despite complaints about shipping and insurance restrictions on agricultural exports, Russia has shipped record quantities of wheat. “When the part of the Black Sea deal is related to Russia is implemented, Russia will immediately return to the implementation of the deal,” Peskov was quoted as saying by AP.
The Black Sea Grain initiative was brokered by UN and Turkey to facilitate the flow of food from Ukraine to countries in Africa, Middle East, and Asia. This initiative was crucial in alleviating the food crisis that had worsened due to Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Kremlin’s assurance that the ships entering or leaving the ports of Ukraine won’t be attacked, the soaring prices of wheat, vegetable oil, and other food commodities were controlled.