On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken denounced Russia’s decision to suspend participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Mr Blinken, in a statement, said Russia’s continued weaponisation of food harms millions of vulnerable people around the world.

Since August 2022, the Black Sea Grain Initiative has shipped over 32 million metric tons of Ukrainian grains and foodstuffs to the world, including some of the most food-insecure regions of the globe like the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, Yemen, and Afghanistan.

Every shipment under the initiative has contributed to reducing hardship in the world’s poorest countries since bringing grain to world markets lowers food prices for all.

Despite Russia’s claims, Mr Blinken said the UN had facilitated record Russian exports of food, coordinating with the private sector and with the U.S., EU and UK to clarify any concerns raised by Russia.

“As we have consistently made clear, no G7 sanctions are in place on Russian food and fertiliser exports. Russia, unfortunately, does not contribute to the World Food Programme, and its exports focus on higher-income countries, not the world’s poorest,” Mr Blinken explained.

He added, “This decision is consistent with Russia’s veto last week of a UN Security Council resolution reauthorising critical cross-border humanitarian assistance to Syrians. The cynical actions hurt the world’s most vulnerable.’’

He said the U.S. urged Russia to reverse its decision, resume negotiations, and extend, expand, and fully implement the initiative immediately to benefit the millions of people who depend on Ukrainian grains.

Russia had on Monday suspended its participation in the Black Sea grain export deal, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

“Unfortunately, the part of these Black Sea agreements that concerns Russia has not been implemented so far, so its effect is terminated,’’ local media reported, quoting Mr Peskov.

Russia had been complaining that its demands to improve its own grain and fertiliser exports have not been met. Mr Peskov nonetheless noted that as soon as the Russian part of the agreements was fulfilled, the country would immediately return to the deal.

Russia and Ukraine signed separately with Türkiye and the United Nations, the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul in July 2022. It allowed Ukraine to export its grain and other agricultural products from its Black Sea ports.

The initiative, which was initially valid for 120 days, was extended in mid-November 2022 for another 120 days till March 18.

(NAN)