Over 400 million people worldwide, predominantly in Asian and African countries, depend on the critical grain supplies from Ukraine for their food security. Last year, in response to a Russian naval blockade on Ukrainian seaports that disrupted these grain exports, the global community unified to establish the Black Sea Grain Initiative with the aid of the UN and Turkey. This initiative has become a crucial lifeline for the world, exporting almost 33 million metric tons of agricultural products to 45 countries, an outcome that is nothing short of spectacular.
Thanks to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Ukrainian grain has covered more than half of the global supply need as outlined by the United Nations World Food Programme. Contrary to what Russian propaganda may state, approximately two-thirds of the total volume of Ukrainian exports were distributed to developing countries and those most susceptible to severe food insecurity in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. These numbers could have been significantly higher if not for Russia’s continual interference with the normal functioning of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
In demonstrating its sincere commitment to ensuring food security, Ukraine initiated an essential humanitarian program, “Grain from Ukraine”, under the leadership of President Zelenskyy. As part of this program, Ukraine provided grain free of charge to those in need, particularly in African countries. We collaborated with 34 donor countries, whose generous funding helped avert the threat of hunger. We extend our gratitude to every donor who contributed to the “Grain from Ukraine” program, which raised over 200 million USD in donations and dispatched 170 thousand tons of wheat to those in need in Africa and Asia.
On July 17, 2023, Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, threatening global food security and manipulating the world. We are doing everything in our power to maintain this Initiative. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued official letters to Turkish President Erdoğan and UN Secretary General Guterres, proposing the continuation of its implementation or the establishment of a similar initiative in a trilateral format. With political will, Ukraine, the UN, and Turkey can collectively ensure the functioning of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. We urge all UN member states to resolutely demand Russia’s return to the Initiative and keep politics separate from global food security.
On July 11, 2023, Russian forces attacked a grain terminal in an Odesa region port with “Shahed-136” type UAVs, causing a substantial fire and damage. Further strikes on July 18 and 19 severely impaired the infrastructure of the Odesa port.
Upon the introduction of the Initiative last year, grain prices worldwide experienced an immediate decrease. As of June 2023, prices were 23.4% lower than in March 2022 when Russia began blockading our seaports. With Russia’s current withdrawal, prices are set to increase, affecting the most vulnerable, primarily in Asia and Africa.
Ukraine has not issued any additional requirements to maintain the Initiative’s function. We have always emphasized our desire for our grain exports to continue undisturbed and to increase capacity. Conversely, Russia has persistently disrupted the Initiative, deliberately reducing the number of inspections at the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul and limiting the capacity to 1-2 vessels per day.
On April 29, 2023, Russia entirely obstructed the operation of Ukraine’s Pivdenny seaport. The last grain vessel departed from the port of Odesa on July 16, 2023. Currently, Russia has completely blocked the functioning of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
By resorting to grain blackmail, Russia also attempts to relax international sanctions unrelated to food exports. We emphasize that since 2022, no sanctions have been imposed on Russian food exports. Any claim to the contrary is a blatant falsehood.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative consists of two agreements: one signed by the UN, Turkey, and Russia, and the other signed by the UN, Turkey, and Ukraine. Russia has only violated its part of the agreement with the UN and Turkey; Ukraine’s agreement with them remains intact. Ukraine is prepared to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative or a similar endeavor in a trilateral format. Collectively, we can guarantee global food security without Russia and prevent Russia from weaponizing food. Ukraine, the UN, and Turkey can jointly ensure the operation of the food corridor and the inspection of vessels.
All people worldwide are entitled to stability. Russia should not be permitted to exploit the threat of hunger to manipulate the world’s most vulnerable people for political gain and increased export revenues. No country should have the power to undermine global food security. Ukraine invites the international community to join in our efforts to protect critical grain exports to the world and adopt a principled stance.
We urge all UN member states to support this endeavor and help safeguard life – not just in Ukraine but around the world. Food security is a crucial component of President Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula, which aims to establish a fair and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with the UN Charter and UNGA resolutions.