Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State : Suspension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative 10/29/2022 09:02 PM EDT

 Suspension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative

10/29/2022 09:02 PM EDT

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

The United States regrets Russia’s suspension of its participation in the operations of the U.N.-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative.  We urge all parties to keep this essential, life-saving Initiative functioning.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative has already moved more than 9 million metric tons of food and brought prices down around the world, which has been critically important for low- and middle-income countries.  It has been a success and must continue.

Any act by Russia to disrupt these critical grain exports is essentially a statement that people and families around the world should pay more for food or go hungry.  In suspending this arrangement, Russia is again weaponizing food in the war it started, directly impacting low- and middle-income countries and global food prices, and exacerbating already dire humanitarian crises and food insecurity.

We urge the Government of Russia to resume its participation in the Initiative, fully comply with the arrangement, and work to ensure that people around the world continue to be able to receive the benefits facilitated by the Initiative.