The EU encouraged Russia on Sunday to reconsider its decision to discontinue its participation in the historic Black Sea grain agreement, which has aided Ukraine’s food exports to the rest of the globe.
Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement on Twitter that Russia’s decision to discontinue participation in the Black Sea pact “puts at risk the primary export route of much-needed grain and fertilisers to alleviate the global food crisis created by its war against Ukraine.”
This was declared a day earlier by the Russian Defense Ministry in response to suspected attacks on its Black Sea fleet.
According to a statement from the ministry, the decision was made “in view of the recent events related to the terrorist attacks against ships of the Black Sea Fleet.”
On July 22, an agreement was made in Istanbul by Turkey, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine to restore grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports that had been suspended since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February. To manage the supplies, a Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul has been established with representatives from the three nations and the UN.
The US expressed sadness over Russia’s decision and urged all parties to maintain the viability of this vital Initiative.
The accord was crucial for low- and middle-income countries, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the announcement.
Blinken asserted that “any attempt by Russia to disrupt these crucial grain exports is basically a statement that people and families throughout the world should pay more for food or go hungry” and accused Moscow of “again weaponizing food in the conflict it started with Ukraine.”