A number of leading EU figures condemned, on Monday 17 July, Russia’s decision to terminate the international agreement designed to facilitate grain exports from Ukraine.
“I strongly condemn Russia’s cynical move to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative, despite UN and Turkey’s efforts. The EU is working to ensure food security for the world’s vulnerable”, said the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
For Charles Michel, President of the European Council, this Russian action “will jeopardise food security and access to grain and fertiliser supplies for people around the world”. He said he supported the efforts of the UN Secretary General to obtain an extension.
Moscow announced the end of the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain after the Ukrainian army attacked the Crimean bridge with naval drones. Russian President Vladimir Putin has often denounced the obstacles to the export of Russian food products and fertilisers, which should have accompanied the export of Ukrainian products.
Signed in July 2022 on the shores of the Bosphorus and already renewed twice, the agreement allowing Ukraine to export its cereals via the Black Sea has enabled almost 33 million tonnes of cereals to leave Ukrainian ports (see EUROPE 13185/24). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)