Russia’s threat to pull out of Ukraine grain deal raises food safety concerns Premium

Concerns grow that Russia won't extend UN-brokered deal allowing grain from Ukraine to flow to hungry nations. Turkey & UN negotiated accord to ease global food crisis. Moscow insists it's facing hurdles, but data shows it has exported record amounts of wheat. If deal isn't extended, food security in vulnerable places will be compromised. Russia may face cost in terms of public perception & global goodwill if it doesn't extend.

Concerns are growing that Russia will not extend a United Nations-brokered deal that allows grain to flow from Ukraine to parts of the world struggling with hunger, with ships no longer heading to the war-torn country’s Black Sea ports and food exports dwindling.

Turkey and the UN negotiated the breakthrough accord last summer to ease a global food crisis, along with a separate agreement with Russia to facilitate shipments of its food and fertilizer. Moscow insists it’s still facing hurdles, though data show it has been exporting record amounts of wheat.

Russian officials repeatedly say that there are no grounds for extending the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which is nearing its fourth renewal. It is something they have threatened before — then have twice gone on to extend the deal for two months instead of the four months outlined in the agreement.

The UN and others are striving to keep the fragile deal intact, with Ukraine and Russia both major suppliers of wheat, barley, vegetable oil and other food products that countries in Africa, and parts of Asia rely on. It has allowed Ukraine to ship 32.8 million tonnes of grain, more than half of it to developing nations.

The deal has helped lower global prices of food commodities like wheat after they surged to record highs following the invasion last year, but that relief has not reached kitchen tables.

Russia’s exit would cut off a source for World Food Program aid for countries at risk of famine, including Somalia, Ethiopia and Afghanistan, and compound food security problems in vulnerable places struggling with conflict, economic crisis and drought.