Washington and the UN have said that Russia’s withdrawal from the grain agreement will harm millions of people around the world

Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed the Black Sea ports to be unblocked for the export of Ukrainian grain, will affect the poorest people in the world, who will be put on the brink of starvation by Russia. This was stated by the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Solskyi in a comment to the Voice of America.

“Ukrainian exports will be badly affected, because the grain corridor, the sea, is the cheapest, most efficient way of loading grain from Ukraine. Therefore, we will still fight for this grain corridor”, says the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.

Solsky emphasized that Ukraine will use other possible methods of grain export, but Russia’s decision will affect the poorest people in the world: “The poorest people in the world will once again be put on the brink of starvation by Russia, because they will be forced to pay more for food and buy less of it, therefore, this once again confirms that Russia’s statements and its specific actions are completely different things.”

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell stated solidarity with Ukraine and support in this matter: “Russia has refused to extend this (grain) agreement, and this is something very serious that will create many problems for many people around the world. For our part, we will do everything possible through our ways of solidarity to make Ukrainian grain available to the people who eat it. And I have to blame Russia for this decision.” According to him, Russia’s decision is unjustified use of people’s hunger as a weapon.

The permanent representative of the USA to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, emphasized the same. “While Russia plays political games, real people will suffer: a child in the Horn of Africa who suffers from malnutrition, a mother who will stop producing breast milk for her child because she does not have enough to eat herself. This is what it looks like when one country – one country – decides to take humanity hostage,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

According to the US Permanent Representative to the UN, all UN member states should unite and call on Russia to reverse its decision; resume negotiations; continue, expand and fully implement this initiative.

The General Secretary of the organization also noted that “by deciding to terminate the Black Sea Initiative, the Russian Federation also terminated its commitment to “facilitate the unhindered export of food, sunflower oil and fertilizers from Black Sea ports controlled by Ukraine”.

“At the end of the day, participating in these deals is a choice. But struggling people everywhere and developing countries have no choice. Hundreds of millions of people are facing hunger and consumers are facing a global cost-of-living crisis. They will pay the price.” added Guterres

As Voice of America previously reported, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would discuss the continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the export of Russian fertilizers with Russian President Putin during a meeting scheduled for August.

“I hope that with this discussion, we will make progress and continue moving on our path without a pause,” the Turkish president said. Erdogan expressed his belief that Putin supports the continuation of the agreement.