On Monday, Russia announced the suspension of a humanitarian corridor established to facilitate the transportation of crucial Ukrainian grains to global markets.

This decision came just hours before the expiration of the agreement.

Originally initiated in July 2022 under the auspices of the United Nations, the Black Sea Grain Initiative has undergone multiple short-term extensions, CNBC reported.

However, Russia has grown increasingly dissatisfied with perceived restrictions that it believes impede the full export of its own grain and fertilizer products.

During a recent call with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated these grievances, expressing that the primary objective of supplying grain to countries in need, particularly in Africa, had not been accomplished through the Black Sea Grain Initiative, as reported by the Kremlin.

The initiative was established as a response to a global food crisis triggered by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a significant grain-exporting nation and neighboring country.

The agreement was scheduled to expire on Monday at midnight, Istanbul time.

Written by staff