Statement from the US on Russia's termination of grain initiative

The U.S. has called for a reversal of the decision by Russia to terminate the Black Sea Grain Corridor Agreement, drawing attention to the negative impact it could have on food security. White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge shared posts on Twitter regarding the issue. Noting that Russia’s termination of the Black Sea Grain Corridor Agreement would further worsen food insecurity and harm millions of vulnerable people around the world, Hodge said, “The initiative has helped reduce food prices that have risen as a result of Russia’s brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.” Hodge pointed out that more than half of the 32 million metric tons of grain and food shipped through the grain initiative went to developing countries, including some of the most food insecure regions in the world. Emphasizing that every shipment under the initiative contributes to poor countries by reducing food prices, Hodge continued as follows: “Preventing this grain from entering markets will harm people around the world. Indeed, we are already seeing an increase in global wheat prices as a result of Russia’s suspension of participation in the initiative. We call on Russia to immediately reverse its decision.” Russia’s statement on the “grain corridor agreement has effectively ended” In order to reduce the impact of Russia’s attack on Ukraine on global food prices, the UN, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine signed the Black Sea Grain Corridor Agreement at a ceremony held in Istanbul on July 22, 2022. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made a statement regarding the Black Sea Grain Corridor Agreement, which expired today, saying, “The grain corridor agreement has effectively ended, it has been stopped. Russia will immediately return to the grain agreement as soon as the relevant conditions are implemented. The part of the agreement regarding Russia has not been fulfilled.”