A critical deal negotiated last summer to address world hunger is at risk of collapsing unless Russian President Vladimir Putin, the United Nations, and the European Union can find a solution. The Black Sea grain deal, which allows Ukrainian ports to be used for grain shipments and the export of Russian food and fertilizers during the ongoing war, is set to expire on Monday. Last year’s deal, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, enabled Ukraine to ship 32.8 million metric tons of grain, with more than half going to developing nations. This access was threatened by Russia’s invasion, raising fears of a global food crisis. While the Black Sea deal provided temporary relief, those concerns have resurfaced as the deadline approaches. Putin has stated that Russia might withdraw from the deal if other parties fail to fulfill their promises. Moscow has previously threatened to block the deal’s extension due to issues affecting Russia’s own exports. The expiration of the deal would also endanger the World Food Program’s aid initiatives for vulnerable countries, such as Ethiopia, Somalia, and Afghanistan. The UN’s recent State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report revealed that around 725 million people faced chronic hunger in 2022, up from 613 million in 2019. The war in Ukraine has led the UN to revise its projections on global hunger. If the deal is not extended, countries that depend on Ukraine for imports will have to seek alternative sources, likely Russia. Efforts are now underway to salvage the deal before Monday’s deadline. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has sent a letter to Putin urging an extension. Negotiations are ongoing, with concerns raised regarding financial transactions and the reconnection of the Russian agricultural bank to the international payment network SWIFT. The EU is considering the connection of a subsidiary of the agricultural bank to SWIFT specifically for grain and fertilizer transactions. The main objective is to avoid the unraveling of the Istanbul arrangements and the resulting increase in global food and fertilizer prices, which would have severe consequences for vulnerable populations worldwide.
Global Food Crisis Looms as Deadline for Black Sea Grain Deal Nears – National Concerns arise
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