World

Russia blocks Ukraine grain deal

Russia announced that it won’t extend the U.N.-backed Black Sea grain deal that has allowed Ukraine to export grain and other food during the ongoing war.

Driving the news: Moscow has been unhappy with the terms of the deal since its inception, saying it failed to deliver on a promise to free up Russian agricultural exports that have been blocked by sanctions. 

• Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that once the Russian part of the deal is completed, they will immediately allow Ukraine to begin exporting grain again.

Why it matters: The UN says the deal has been crucial to stabilizing food prices worldwide during a global hunger crisis.

• The initiatives have helped to reduce food prices by over 23% since March of last year, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Big picture: Russia’s blockade on Ukrainian grain exports sent food prices soaring in parts of Africa and the Middle East when the invasion began last year.

• “The deal’s expiration risks holding global food security at ransom with the world’s most vulnerable people facing the harshest consequences,” David Miliband, the president of the International Rescue Committee, said in a statement.

• The UN estimates that 783 million people around the world faced chronic hunger in 2022.

What to watch: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country is prepared to continue operating under the initiative with support from the UN. However, the ships won’t have guaranteed safe passage without Russia’s support.

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