By refusing to extend its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative and attacking Ukrainian seaports, 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. Russia wants to acute food crisis to trigger social unrest, migration and political crises. 

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. 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 Ukraine 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.

With the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative more than half of the global supply by the United Nations World Food Program has been covered by Ukrainian grain. 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. Ukraine engaged 34 donor countries, who helped fund the program and save people from the threat of hunger. Ukraine is grateful to every donor who has joined “Grain from Ukraine” program.

Ukraine has always been and will continue to be a reliable food security guarantor for the world, including countries of Global South. However, russia deliberately undermines the Grain Initiative and threatens global food security - even before July 17, russia was impeding the operation of the Black Sea Grain Corridor. russia's goal is very simple: it wants to make more money on its own food exports by causing food prices to rise.

Last year, when the initiative was introduced, grain prices around the world immediately dropped. 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.

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.

Ukraine has never put forward any additional demands to continue the functioning of the deal. 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 from the port of Odesa on July 16, 2023. Russia tries to force the West to ease sanctions which are not related to food exports. Ukraine emphasizes that since 2022, no sanctions have been imposed on russian food exports and when russia claims otherwise, it simply lies.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative consists of two deals: one signed by the UN, Türkiye, and russia, and the other signed by the UN, Türkiye, and Ukraine. R ussia has broken only its part of the deal with the UN and Türkiye, Ukraine’s deal with them remains in place. Ukraine is ready to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative or its analog in a trilateral format. Jointly can ensure global food security without russia and not allow russia to use food as a weapon. Ukraine, the UN, and Türkiye can jointly ensure the operation of the food corridor and the inspection of vessels.

All people around the world have a right to stability. russia has no right to use the threat of hunger to blackmail the world's most vulnerable people in order to achieve political goals and increase export revenues. No country in the world has the right to destroy global food security. Ukraine invites the international community to join Ukraine’s efforts to save vital grain exports to the world and take a principled stance.

We call on all UN member states to support this effort and ensure the protection of life—not only in Ukraine but around the globe. Food security is one of the important points of President Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula, aimed at restoring just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the UN Charter and UNGA resolutions.