The European Union has urged the G20 nations to pressure Russia into resuming the agreement allowing the export of Ukrainian grains through the Black Sea, as reported by AFP on Thursday.
According to the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, Russia’s agricultural sector is the “main beneficiary” of Moscow’s withdrawal from the UN-brokered agreement.
He expressed concern that Russia will benefit from higher food prices and increase its share in the global grain market by limiting its main competitor’s export capacity.
Since withdrawing from the grain export agreement in July, Russia has escalated attacks on critical facilities storing Ukrainian grains earmarked for export.
The agreement allowed approximately 33 million tons of grains to leave Ukrainian ports, easing fears of food shortages in vulnerable countries.
With the Black Sea effectively closed, Ukrainian agricultural products now primarily utilize the ports of Izmail and Reni on the Danube River, through neighboring Romania.
Borrell accused Moscow of offering discounted grains to developing countries while pretending to solve a problem it created, using food as a weapon to exploit economic vulnerabilities and undermine global food security.
The EU official emphasized that Russia could be persuaded to return to the agreement if the international community speaks with a clear and unified voice.
