'Grave Concern, Must Reverse': UK, WTO And France 'Condemn' Russia's Pulling Out Of Black Sea Grain Initiative

UK, WTO and France on Tuesday condemned Russia's decision to pull out of the Black Sea Gran Initiative. They said that Moscow must reverse the decision.

WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Left) and UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

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United Kingdom Foreign Secretary James Cleverly’s on Tuesday responded to Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. He said that the UK condemns the decision in strongest terms adding that Russia's 'illegal' war against Ukraine has created problems in the free flow of grain and other foodstuff through the Black Sea. Cleverly urged Moscow to re-join the initiative which was developed by the UN in 2022 and allowed the unimpeded export of grain. WTO Director-General termed the decision a 'grave concern'.

United Kingdom

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said, "The United Kingdom condemns in the strongest terms Russia’s decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine has obstructed the free flow of grain and other foodstuffs through the Black Sea, causing worldwide suffering. We urge Russia to re-join the initiative, which was developed by the UN in 2022, and allow the unimpeded export of grain."

"Since its inception, the initiative has played a significant role in lowering and stabilising global food prices, delivering over 32 million tonnes of food products to world markets. Russia has obstructed the proper operation of the deal for several months. In doing so, Russia is serving its own interests and disregarding the needs of all those around the world, including in the poorest countries, who are paying higher food prices as a result. The UN estimates that without the grain provided by the BSGI, the number of undernourished people worldwide could increase by millions," he added.

Cleverly further said, "While exports of grain from Ukraine are restricted, Russian exports of food are at higher levels than before the invasion. We have always been clear that the target of our sanctions is Russia's war machine and not the food and fertiliser sectors. Contrary to Russian claims, the UN and other partners have taken significant steps to ensure that Russian food is able to access world markets. The best way for Russia to address concerns around global food security would be for it to withdraw its forces from Ukraine and end the war."

 

WTO Director-General

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that the abrupt termination of the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative is a matter of grave concern.

"I share UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s deep regret and disappointment. Global food security should not become a casualty of war. Ukraine and the Russian Federation are important suppliers of food, feed, and fertilizer to international markets. People in poor countries struggling with food and energy price inflation stand to be hit hardest by the termination of the initiative: prices for future delivery of wheat and corn are already rising. Therefore, I urge all parties to make every effort to come back to the negotiating table," she added.

 

French Foreign Ministry

France also condemned Russia’s suspension of its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The ministry said that Russia alone is responsible for blocking navigation in that maritime area and is imposing an illegal blockade on Ukrainian ports. It must stop its blackmail on global food security and reverse its decision, it said in an official statement.

"For its part, France, together with its partners, will continue to step up its action to reduce the food insecurity risks hanging over the most vulnerable populations around the world, including through the EU’s Solidarity Lanes, which play an essential role and have enabled 38 million tonnes of grain to be exported from Ukraine since March 2022," the statement added.

It further said, "France has also increased its international food aid to more than €840 million for 2023, to help people suffering food insecurity and malnutrition due to the Russian aggression against Ukraine."

Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain export agreement, the Kremlin said on Monday, news agency Reuters reported. Last July, the United Nations and Turkey reached an agreement to ease a worldwide food crisis by allowing Ukrainian grain that had been stopped by the Russia-Ukraine conflict to be safely shipped. It had been extended multiple times before finally expiring on Monday. Russia has been claiming for months that the requirements for its prolongation have not been met.

Speaking with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated: "In fact, the Black Sea agreements ceased to be valid today. Unfortunately, the part of these Black Sea agreements concerning Russia has not been implemented so far, so its effect is terminated."