Moscow Threatens to End Critical Black Sea Grain Deal in Response to G7 Sanctions

The Black Sea grain deal is a critical agreement aimed at addressing the global hunger crisis, and Moscow’s threat to terminate the deal if the G7 nations ban exports to Russia has raised concerns about its impact.

The G7 countries have been imposing sanctions against Russia for its war in Ukraine, and a ban on exports could be the latest addition to these sanctions.

The deal is crucial because Ukraine is the world’s top exporter of sunflower oil and supplies around 45 million metric tons of grain to the global market every year.

Along with Russia, Ukraine accounts for one-quarter of global wheat exports.

The Black Sea grain deal was brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in July 2022 and established a humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea to guarantee the safety of ships carrying Ukrainian grain, fertilizer, and other foodstuff.

The deal was suspended by Russia in October 2022 following drone attacks on the Crimean city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, and shipments have been stop-and-start ever since, with both sides accusing the other of sabotaging the operation at times.

On Sunday, Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president and deputy chair of Russia’s security council, implied in a Telegram post that Moscow would respond to a new G7 export ban by halting the flow of “goods that are the most sensitive for G7.”

This response is a cause for concern, as it could exacerbate the global hunger crisis by restricting the flow of food and agricultural products.

In response to Moscow’s threat, the G7 called for the “extension, full implementation, and expansion” of the Black Sea grain deal in a statement published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan on Sunday.

The statement highlights the importance of the agreement in ensuring the safety and security of food shipments and calls for its continued operation.

In conclusion, the Black Sea grain deal is a critical agreement that plays a significant role in addressing the global hunger crisis.

The threat by Moscow to terminate the agreement if the G7 bans exports to Russia could have severe consequences for the global food market.

The G7’s call for the extension and expansion of the agreement is a positive step in ensuring the continued operation of the humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea.