The cancellation of a UN-mediated deal to facilitate the transport of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea has drawn sharp criticism from the United States, which claims Moscow is “weaponizing food in the war it initiated.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Moscow in a statement on October 29 to “resume its participation in the initiative,” noting that the deal had allowed the export of more than 9 million metric tons of grain since late July and “brought prices down around the world, which has been critically important for low- and middle-income countries.”
On October 29, Russia informed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that the agreement was being suspended because it was allegedly unable to “ensure the safety of civilian ships” doing business under the agreement.
The food program was suspended by Moscow due to “terrorist strikes” on its Black Sea Fleet close to the annexed Ukrainian territory of Crimea.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, referred to the action as “a perfectly blatant attempt by Russia to return to the threat of large-scale starvation for Africa, for Asia” in a video speech the same day. Zelenskiy demanded that Russia be kicked out of the Group of 20 major economies (G20).
