Russia has suspended its participation in the Black Sea Initiative, including the withdrawal of Russian security guarantees for navigation in the northwestern part of the Black Sea. With the decision to terminate the Black Sea Initiative, the Russian Federation also terminated its commitment to “facilitate the unimpeded export of food, sunflower oil, and fertilizers from Ukrainian-controlled Black Sea Ports”.

The initiative started in July 2022 ans has ensured the safe passage of over 32 million metric tons of food commodities from Ukrainian ports. At a time when the production and availability of food are being disrupted by conflict, climate change, energy prices and more, these agreements have helped reduce food prices by over 23% since March of last year, the UN said.

Russian Foreign Minister said in a statement that “none of the five systematic objectives stipulated in the Russia-UN Memorandum has been accomplished”, including the reconnection of Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT system and that not enough grain has reached poor countries.

In a letter from United Nations secretary-general António Guterres to President Vladimir Putin, it was highlighted that “since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, and also taking into account the measures adopted by the Russian Federation, Russian grain trade has reached high export volumes and fertilizer markets are stabilizing with Russian exports nearing full recovery, as stated by the Russian Union of Grain Exporters and Russian Fertilizer Producers Association.”

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he believed Putin wants the deal to continue and would discuss with him it when they meet in person in August.