United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Russia to resume its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, stating that it is "critically important for low- and middle-income countries." Russia pulled out of the deal after accusing Ukraine of attacking its ships.
"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," Blinken said.
