Ukraine has committed to delivering 57,000 tonnes of grain to Sudan and Nigeria under its humanitarian ‘Grain from Ukraine’ initiative, as reported by the Ukrainian national news outlet.
The decision was made during discussions between Deputy Minister Markiyan Dmytrasevych from the Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry and Carl Skau, the Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP).
Of this, Sudan is set to receive 32,000 tonnes and Nigeria 25,000 tonnes. Additionally, the possibility of extending this aid to Somalia is being explored.
The initiative, suggested by President Vladimir Zelensky at the 2022 G20 Bali conference, aims to both support countries facing food scarcity and uphold Ukrainian grain farmers. It was formally introduced in Kyiv during a food security summit in November 2022.
Africa’s grain supplies have been critically affected by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, leading to escalating prices due to diminishing reserves. The conflict has disrupted essential food shipments from both nations to Africa.
To address the food crisis, President Vladimir Putin has also pledged significant grain donations to several African countries.
However, the African Union (AU) emphasizes that peace in Ukraine is crucial to stabilize grain supplies, prompting African leaders to appeal to both Ukraine and Russia to cease hostilities.
Last July, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow would consider rejoining the Ukraine grain deal if its demands were completely met.
He expressed that the agreement had lost its significance, and this was the first time he commented on the matter since Russia’s exit from the landmark deal earlier this week.
During a government meeting, Putin emphasized that the continuation of the grain deal in its current form no longer held any meaning.
