Russian Grain Agreement Expires, Threatening Global Food Security

The agreement, which has ensured the export of grain and fertilizer from Ukrainian ports across the Black Sea, expires today.

The Kremlin said today that the agreement is being put on hold, because it believes that the demands from Russia have not been met.

This could have major consequences for food security worldwide.

On Monday morning, Russia accused Ukraine of attacking the Crimean bridge with drones. Two people were killed in the attack.

Explosions at the Krim bridge – two people are said to have died

The fact that the agreement is not extended is not to be connected with the attack on the bridge last night, according to the Kremlin.

Russia will return to the agreement as soon as its demands are met, the Kremlin further states.

They have notified Turkey, Ukraine and the UN that they do not agree to an extension of the agreement, according to a spokesperson from the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The UN agreement, which Turkey helped negotiate, has allowed Ukraine to send over 32 million tonnes of grain and other agricultural products past Russian warships since August last year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not extend the grain agreement at this time. The agreement expires today.

Photo: testing

Can affect food safety

Russia has threatened to withdraw from the agreement because it claims that its own demands for improved exports of grain and fertilizer have not been met.

Among other things, they want them to also have access to the Swift system, i.e. to send money across national borders.

In addition, they believe that poor countries have not received enough grain.

EU President Ursula Von der Leyen has previously asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to extend the grain agreement.

The grain agreement is important for food security. When the full-scale war started, the prices of food rose sharply.

Photo: AP

Von der Leyen fears that it could affect the world’s food security if the agreement is not extended.

– The ball is in President Putin’s corner, and the world is watching, Von der Leyen said last week, according to Reuters.

Important for diplomacy

The grain agreement has worked well so far.

When the war started, food prices rose sharply. But the grain agreement had a big effect, and food prices fell by 20 per cent when it came into place in August last year.

It is particularly important for many on the African continent, where many live on the brink of poverty.

It is uncertain whether the Russian president will agree to renew the agreement. Here from a field in Ukraine.

Photo: AP

This is therefore an important point for diplomacy in Africa, and for the relationship between Putin and several African countries.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said he has sent a letter with a proposal to extend the grain agreement that allows Ukraine to safely transport grain and fertilizer through the Black Sea – without risk of Russian attack.

2023-07-17 08:26:49
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