UN raises global food supply alarm as Black Sea rain deal ends

The United Nations has expressed alarm over the recent termination of the Black Sea grain deal between Russia and Ukraine, warning that it could have grave consequences for global food supply.
The deal, which allowed for the safe export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea region, has been crucial in combating the ongoing global food crisis. However, with Russia pulling out of the agreement, the UN fears that millions of people could suffer from hunger and even death.
Martin Griffiths, the United Nations’ Aid chief, delivered a dire warning to the Security Council, stating that the spike in grain prices resulting from the termination of the deal could lead to severe food shortages. “Some will go hungry, some will starve, many may die as a result of these decisions,” Griffiths told the Council. He emphasized that approximately 362 million people across 69 countries are currently in need of urgent humanitarian aid.
Russia’s decision to quit the Black Sea grain deal was motivated by its dissatisfaction with the lack of improvement in its own food and fertilizer exports and the insufficient amount of Ukrainian grain reaching the poorest countries. This abrupt exit has caused grain prices to skyrocket, with US wheat futures in Chicago experiencing a more than 6% increase this week alone. Wednesday witnessed the largest daily gain in wheat futures since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, there are hopes that Russia may resume negotiations on the deal, leading to a slight decrease in prices on Friday.
The World Food Programme has successfully delivered 725,000 tonnes of grain to several countries including Afghanistan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. However, according to macroeconomist Mikhail Khan, who was requested by Russia to brief the Security Council, only 3 percent of the grain shipped by Ukraine went to the poorest nations as per UN data.
Khan stated that the impact of this grain deal on global markets is not significant. In light of its withdrawal from the agreement, Russia is currently in negotiations for food exports to countries in urgent need but has yet to finalize any contracts. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin made this announcement in Moscow on Friday.
European Union open in assisting United Nations
In a disturbing turn of events, Russia has launched a series of relentless attacks on Ukrainian food export facilities for a fourth consecutive day. The aggression, compounded by the seizure of ships in the Black Sea, has raised concerns about the implications for global food security. As tensions escalate, the European Union has reiterated its willingness to assist the United Nations in addressing this crisis.
The attacks, which Moscow claims are in retaliation for a Ukrainian strike on Russia’s bridge to Crimea, have far-reaching consequences. The United Nations’ Political Affairs chief, Rosemary DiCarlo, expressed her concern to the Security Council, emphasizing the potential impact on global food security. This new wave of attacks threatens the stability and availability of food supplies worldwide.
In response to the situation, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has proposed a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Erdogan remains optimistic that discussions between the two leaders could lead to a resolution and the restoration of the Black Sea grain deal. He called on Western countries to seriously consider Russia’s demands and engage in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation.
However, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, voiced skepticism regarding Russia’s motives. She argued that Russia had no legitimate reasons for withdrawing from the grain deal and accused the country of using the Black Sea as a tool for blackmail. While Russia’s grain and fertilizer exports are not currently subject to Western sanctions, Moscow claims that logistical and financial barriers have hindered their shipments.
Thomas-Greenfield firmly debunked these claims, stating that “sanctions have not blocked their exports.” She accused Russia of holding humanity hostage by using the Black Sea as a bargaining chip. The ambassador’s remarks indicate the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine and its commitment to standing up against Russia’s aggressive actions.
According to Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s Deputy UN Ambassador, Moscow is not opposed to the Black Sea deal, especially considering its importance for the global food market. However, there are certain demands that need to be met for Russia to participate again.
Polyanskiy highlighted that Russia has had a successful grain harvest of 156 million tons in the past year, with 60 million tonnes exported. Despite this achievement, Russia has faced financial challenges due to lower grain prices and increased costs for cargo, foreign transactions, and imports of agricultural machinery and spare parts.
One of the key demands from Russia is the reconnection of its Agricultural Bank, Rosselkhozbank, to the SWIFT international payments system. The European Union severed ties with Rosselkhozbank in June 2022. Prior to Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea deal on Monday, a proposal was made by the UN and European Commission to connect a subsidiary of Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT.
Olof Skoog, the EU envoy to the UN stated that they are open to exploring solutions with the UN that could lead to a resumption of the grain deal.