Over 400 million people around the world rely on vital Ukrainian grain supplies to ensure their food security, mainly in countries in Asia and Africa. By refusing to extend its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia puts millions of people around the world at risk of hunger and provokes rising food prices. This is part of a deliberate Russian strategy to destabilize countries in Asia and Africa. Russian terrorists want the acute food crisis to trigger social unrest, migration and political crises. Right after killing the Grain Deal, Russia demonstrated its true attitude toward global food security by attacking key Ukrainian seaports, Odesa and Chornomorsk, with numerous missiles and drones. Russia deliberately strikes Ukrainian cities, which are vital for global food security, in order to achieve its political goals.

We urge the international community to join Ukraine’s efforts to save vital grain exports to the world and take a principled stance. Together, we must protect those most vulnerable around the world whom Russia tries to hurt. By taking joint and resolute actions, we must ensure that Russian food blackmail fails and guarantee unhindered Ukrainian food exports even without relying on any Russian approvals.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative: results and significance

Last year, the world united to ensure Ukrainian grain exports, which had been blocked by Russian naval blockade of Ukrainian seaports. With the help of UN and Türkiye we managed to launch the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has proven to be a vital lifeline for the world.

Its results are spectacular: almost 33 million metric tons of agricultural products were exported to 45 countries.

Thanks to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, more than half of the global supply by the United Nations World Food Programme has been covered by Ukrainian grain. Despite what Russian propaganda says, around two thirds of the overall volume of Ukrainian exports went to developing countries and to those most vulnerable to acute food insecurity in countries in Asia , Africa, and Latin America. Proving its genuine commitment to guaranteeing food security, Ukraine has also launched an important humanitarian program, “Grain from Ukraine,” initiated by President Zelenskyy. Within its framework, Ukraine provided grain free of charge to those in need, especially in countries of Africa.

We engaged 34 donor countries, who helped fund the program and save people from the threat of hunger. We are grateful to every donor who has joined “Grain from Ukraine” program. All people around the world have a right to stability. Africa has the right to stability. Asia has the right to stability. Europe has the right to stability. Today is the time to protect our collective right to stability from the terrorist regime in the Kremlin.

How Russia killed the Grain Initiative 

Ukraine has never put forward any additional demands to continue the functioning of the deal. We always stressed that we want our grain exports to continue unabated and expand capacity. On the contrary, Russia has systematically obstructed the functioning of the deal Russia deliberately decreased the number of inspections in the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul, limiting the capacity to 1-2 vessels per day. On April 29th, 2023, Russia fully blocked the functioning of Ukraine’s Pivdenny seaport. The last grain vessel departed the port of Odesa on July 16, 2023. As of now, Russia has fully blocked the functioning of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. By restoring to grain blackmail Russia also tries to force the West to ease sanctions which are not related to food exports. We emphasize that since 2022, no sanctions have been imposed on Russian food exports and when Russia claims otherwise, it simply lies.

What will be the effects of Russian blackmail be?

Last year, when the initiative was introduced, grain prices around the world immediately dropped. Together with other factors, it had a positive long-term effect.In June 2023, they were 23.4% lower than in March 2022, when Russia started the blockade of our seaports. The immediate outcome of Russia killing the deal now will be that prices will again go up. Hurting those most vulnerable, primarily in Asia and Africa, especially in Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Yemen. Russia must stop playing hunger games with people around the world.

We call on all UN Member States to firmly demand that Russia resume its participation in the deal and stop its hunger games. Russia must keep politics out of global food security. No country in the world has the right to destroy global food security. The result will be that prices will soar again. Hurting those most vulnerable, primarily in African and Asian countries. Russia must stop playing hunger games.

Please read about the importance of the Black Sea Grain Initiative here: https://bit.ly/3K4Bxq6