Johannesburg,South Africa

Russian government has decided not to renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative agreement which was brokered by United Nations and Turkey which expired on 17 July 2023.

UN Secretary General,Antonio Guterres has expressed his disappointment about the decision of Russia to withdrew from the agreement which was useful to fight hunger around the world.

"I deeply regret the decision by the Russian Federation to terminate the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative-including the withdrawal of Russian security guarantees for navigation in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.",said Antonio Guterres.

According to UN Secretary General,"This initiative has ensured the safe passage of over 32 million metric tons of food commodities from Ukrainian ports.

"The World Food Programme has shipped more than 725,000 tons to support humanitarian operations-relieving hunger in some of the hardest hit corners of the world,including Afghanistan,the Horn of Africa and Yemen."

The existence of the agreement played a pivotal role on helping to reduce food prices by over 23 percent since March last year.

Guterres added that with the decision to terminate the Black Sea Initiative,the Russian Federation also terminated its commitment to "facilitate the unimpeded export of food,sunflower oil,and fertilizers from Ukrainian controlled Black Sea Ports."

UN Secretary General has acknowledged the difficulties that are facing by Russian producers to access foreign markets,Russian food and fertilizers are affected by existing sanctions that were brought on by the West.

The European Union released a statement whereby it voiced its concerned about the non-renewal of the deal by the Russian government.

The statement said the European Union condemns unequivocally Russia's decision to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative.With its decision,Russia is further exacerbating the global food security crisis it created by its war of aggression against Ukraine and its blockade of Ukrainian sea ports.Russia must cease illegally blocking Ukrainian sea ports and allow freedom of navigation on the Black Sea.

The EU has asked the Russian government to reconsider its decision and continue with the Black Sea Grain Initiative and stop using food as a weapon.

The EU also promised to continue to support all efforts towards the resumption of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

The President of Ukraine revealed that has spoken to the deal brokers about the continuation of the Black Sea Initiative with or without Russia participation.

"I have sent official letters to President of Turkiye Erdogan and UN Secretary General Guterres with a proposal to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative or its analog in a trilateral format-as it is best.Ukraine,the UN and Turkiye can jointly ensure the operation of the food corridor and the inspection of vessels,"said Volodymyr Zelensky,President of Ukraine.

More than 30 million tonnes of agricultural products were exported to 45 countries from March 2022 when the deal was brokered.

Sixty percent of the exports transported to Africa and Asia,especially in countries such as Algeria,Tunisia,Libya,Egypt,Kenya,Ethiopia,Somalia,Sudan and many others-in Asia was exported to China,India,Bangladesh,Indonesia,Pakistan,Iraq,Lebanon and Yemen.