October 29, 2022
The United States notes Russia’s comments that it will suspend its participation in the UN-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative. The initiative has been successful in getting desperately needed food flowing from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports to world markets. It has helped lower food prices globally and ensure wheat purchased by the World Food Program reaches vulnerable people in Yemen, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, and Somalia.
A disruption to the initiative risks spiking food prices, lowering the confidence of insurers and commercial shippers who have returned to Black Sea routes, and further deepening the global food security crisis just as winter arrives in many countries.
We urge Russia to honor its commitments under the Black Sea Grain Initiative and continue to participate in the arrangement.