The United Nations and Turkey brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative last summer between Ukraine and Russia, which has allowed grain shipments to leave Ukraine's ports and pass through a "humanitarian" corridor safely. Russia has now jeopardized this life-saving arrangement by suspending its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative for an "indefinite period."
The Black Sea Grain Initiative freed up Ukrainian agricultural products for export that had been blocked from reaching global markets following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The increased exports brought more stability to the global food market, which helped to lower prices. Wheat purchased by the World Food Program was able to reach vulnerable people in food insecure areas. In short, this Initiative has helped to relieve the food crisis, which had been exacerbated by Russia's war in Ukraine. Now all that progress is at risk because Russia once again is trying to use vitally needed food as a weapon of war.
