LONDON (AP) 鈥� Russia halted a breakthrough wartime deal on Monday that allows grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger is a growing threat and have pushed more people into poverty.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would until its demands to get its own food and fertilizer to the world are met. While that restrictions on shipping and insurance have hampered its agricultural exports, it has shipped record amounts of wheat.
鈥淲hen the part of the Black Sea deal related to Russia is implemented, Russia will immediately return to the implementation of the deal,鈥� Peskov said.
The suspension marks the end of an accord that the U.N. and Turkey brokered last summer to after Russia's invasion of its neighbor . The initiative is credited with helping lower soaring prices of wheat, vegetable oil and other food commodities.
Ukraine and Russia are both , barley, sunflower oil and other affordable food products that developing nations rely on.
The grain deal provided assurances that entering and leaving Ukrainian ports, while a separate agreement facilitated the movement of Russian food and fertilizer. While Western sanctions do not apply to Moscow's agricultural shipments, some companies may be wary of doing business with Russia because of the measures.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy鈥檚 adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said the suspension was expected and believes it's political theater.
鈥淭he statement itself immediately includes an escape clause,鈥� he said. "Therefore, we are dealing with classic public techniques of the Russian Federation that no longer require significant reciprocal reactions.鈥�
said the country's foreign minister would speak with his Russian counterpart Monday 鈥� and that he was hopeful the deal would be extended.
The suspension of the deal sent wheat prices up about 3% in Chicago trading, to $6.81 a bushel. Analysts don鈥檛 expect more than a temporary bump to food commodity prices because places like Russia and Brazil have ratcheted up wheat and corn exports, but food insecurity worldwide is growing.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative has allowed 32.9 million metric tons of grain and other food to the world, more than , according to the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul.
The agreement was in May, but in recent months, the amount of food shipped and number of vessels departing Ukraine have plunged, with .
The war in Ukraine sent last year and contributed to a global food crisis also tied to other conflicts, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, droughts and other climate factors.
High costs for grain needed for food staples in places like Egypt, Lebanon and Nigeria and helped push millions more people into poverty or food insecurity.
Rising food prices affect people in developing countries disproportionately, because they spend more of their money on meals. Poorer nations that depend on also are spending more as their currencies weaken and they are forced to import more because of climate change. Places like , Kenya, Morocco and Tunisia are struggling with drought.
Under the deal, prices for global food commodities like wheat and vegetable oil have fallen, but food was already expensive before the war in Ukraine and to kitchen tables.
鈥淭he Black Sea deal is absolutely critical for the food security of a number of countries,鈥� and its loss will compound the problems for those facing high debt levels and climate fallout, said Simon Evenett, professor of international trade and economic development at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said this month that 45 countries need outside food assistance, with high local food prices 鈥渁 driver of worrying levels of hunger鈥� in those places.
The grain deal has faced setbacks since it was brokered by the U.N. and Turkey: before rejoining and extending the deal.
In March and May, Russia would only extend the deal for 60 days, instead of the usual 120. The amount of grain shipped per month fell from a peak of 4.2 million metric tons in October to 1.3 million metric tons in May, the lowest volume since the deal began.
Exports expanded in June to a bit over 2 million metric tons, thanks to larger ships able to carry more cargo.
Ukraine has accused Russia of preventing new ships from joining the work since the end of June. Joint inspections meant to ensure vessels only carry grain and not weapons that could help either side also have .
Asked Monday whether connecting the Crimean Peninsula to Russia was a factor in the decision on the grain deal, the Kremlin spokesman said it was not.
Meanwhile, Russia鈥檚 wheat shipments hit all-time highs following a large harvest. It exported 45.5 million metric tons in the 2022-2023 trade year, with another record of 47.5 million metric tons expected in 2023-2024, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates.
___
AP reporters Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Andrew Wilks in Istanbul contributed.
___
See AP鈥檚 complete coverage of the war in Ukraine at and the food crisis at
Courtney Bonnell, The Associated Press
