Tension in Black Sea: Russia Quits Grain Deal, Threatening Global Food Security
The United Nations has warned that the end of the Black Sea grain deal may result in the death of many people due to a spike in grain prices.
The deal, brokered a year ago, had helped lower food prices globally by over 23% and had benefited poorer countries.
However, Russia quit the deal on Monday, citing issues with its own food and fertilizer exports and complaining that not enough Ukrainian grain had reached poor countries.
The move has caused grain prices to rise, with US wheat futures in Chicago rising over 6% this week and having their biggest daily gain since Russia invaded Ukraine.
The U.N. aid chief, Martin Griffiths, told the Security Council that higher prices would be "most acutely felt by families in developing countries" and that some may die as a result of these decisions.
The U.N. World Food Programme had shipped some 725,000 metric tons of Ukraine grain to aid operations in several countries, but Russia has argued that the poorest countries received only 3% of the grain.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said that Russia was negotiating exports of food to countries most in need, but no contracts had been signed yet.
The situation has escalated with Russia pounding Ukrainian food export facilities for a fourth day in a row and practicing seizing ships in the Black Sea.
The U.N. political affairs chief, Rosemary DiCarlo, warned that the new wave of attacks on Ukrainian ports risks having far-reaching impacts on global food security, particularly in developing countries.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his desire to meet with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in the coming weeks, with the aim of reviving a grain trade deal between the two countries in the Black Sea, according to Turkish broadcasters.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Erdogan emphasized the importance of the deal and urged Western countries to take Russia's demands into consideration.
The Turkish president stated that the potential meeting with Putin could lead to the restoration of the Black Sea grain deal, which was suspended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Black Sea grain deal, which was in effect before the pandemic, allowed Russia to export grains to Turkey and other countries through the Black Sea.
The deal was beneficial to both countries, as it helped Russia to diversify its export markets and allowed Turkey to secure much-needed grains at competitive prices.
The Turkish president's statement comes amid increasing tensions between Turkey and Russia over various issues, including Turkey's decision to purchase Russian S-400 missile defense systems and its military presence in Syria.
The potential revival of the Black Sea grain deal could have significant implications for the two countries' economic relationship and could potentially lead to increased trade and investment between Turkey and Russia.
It is important to note that the restoration of the Black Sea grain deal is subject to various factors, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and any potential sanctions or trade restrictions imposed by Western countries.
In conclusion, the potential meeting between Erdogan and Putin and the possibility of reviving the Black Sea grain deal highlight the complex and multifaceted nature of Turkey's relationship with Russia and the challenges and opportunities that come with it.
However, Russia quit the deal on Monday, citing issues with its own food and fertilizer exports and complaining that not enough Ukrainian grain had reached poor countries.
The move has caused grain prices to rise, with US wheat futures in Chicago rising over 6% this week and having their biggest daily gain since Russia invaded Ukraine.
The U.N. aid chief, Martin Griffiths, told the Security Council that higher prices would be "most acutely felt by families in developing countries" and that some may die as a result of these decisions.
The U.N. World Food Programme had shipped some 725,000 metric tons of Ukraine grain to aid operations in several countries, but Russia has argued that the poorest countries received only 3% of the grain.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said that Russia was negotiating exports of food to countries most in need, but no contracts had been signed yet.
The situation has escalated with Russia pounding Ukrainian food export facilities for a fourth day in a row and practicing seizing ships in the Black Sea.
The U.N. political affairs chief, Rosemary DiCarlo, warned that the new wave of attacks on Ukrainian ports risks having far-reaching impacts on global food security, particularly in developing countries.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his desire to meet with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in the coming weeks, with the aim of reviving a grain trade deal between the two countries in the Black Sea, according to Turkish broadcasters.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Erdogan emphasized the importance of the deal and urged Western countries to take Russia's demands into consideration.
The Turkish president stated that the potential meeting with Putin could lead to the restoration of the Black Sea grain deal, which was suspended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Black Sea grain deal, which was in effect before the pandemic, allowed Russia to export grains to Turkey and other countries through the Black Sea.
The deal was beneficial to both countries, as it helped Russia to diversify its export markets and allowed Turkey to secure much-needed grains at competitive prices.
The Turkish president's statement comes amid increasing tensions between Turkey and Russia over various issues, including Turkey's decision to purchase Russian S-400 missile defense systems and its military presence in Syria.
The potential revival of the Black Sea grain deal could have significant implications for the two countries' economic relationship and could potentially lead to increased trade and investment between Turkey and Russia.
It is important to note that the restoration of the Black Sea grain deal is subject to various factors, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and any potential sanctions or trade restrictions imposed by Western countries.
In conclusion, the potential meeting between Erdogan and Putin and the possibility of reviving the Black Sea grain deal highlight the complex and multifaceted nature of Turkey's relationship with Russia and the challenges and opportunities that come with it.
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