Russia has announced the end of an unprecedented war agreement that allowed the shipment of cereals from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia where hunger is a growing threat.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced the termination of the agreement during a telephone conference with journalists, adding that Russia would return to the agreement when its demands were met. “When the part of the agreement on the Black Sea concerning Russia is implemented, Russia will immediately resume the implementation of the agreement,” said Mr. Peskov.
This marks the end of a decisive agreement that the United Nations and Turkey negotiated last summer as Russia invaded its neighbor nearly a year and a half ago. At the Security Forum, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) last week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: “it is essential that we extend and expand the Black Sea Agreement, which Russia threatens to end once again on July 18. Since its signing on July 22 last year, the Black Sea grain initiative has allowed nearly 33 million tons of Ukrainian cereals to be exported despite the war.
Risk of soaring prices in Africa Ukrainian cereals mostly go to wealthy and emerging countries, but the easing of prices allowed by the July agreement and perpetuated by its extension is mainly felt in Africa and low-income countries. This suspension will directly result in a price increase in Africa, especially for a country like Egypt, which depends 80% on Russian and Ukrainian wheat. On March 18, Ukraine assured the continuation of deliveries “to the most needy countries in Africa” if the agreement was not extended at the end of this period.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also assured the continuation of cereal deliveries to Africa, even if the agreement on Ukrainian exports was not renewed at the end of these two months. “If we ultimately decide not to extend this agreement in 60 days, then we are ready to deliver from Russia for free all the volume that was recently intended for the most needy countries in Africa,” he said in a speech in Moscow to African officials.
