Resumption of Food Blackmail: Russia Blocked 50 Ships with Ukrainian Grain in the Black Sea

On July 22, 2022, an agreement was signed between the UN, Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine on the creation of sea corridors for the safe export of grain and related products from the ports of Ukraine. Despite the responsibilities they have assumed, the authorities of the Russian Federation are trying in every possible way to impede the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, using it as blackmail for the whole world.

Since April 10, the Russian side has unilaterally stopped registration of vessels that Ukrainian ports submit to form an inspection plan. This is the second time in the history of the Grain Initiative that an inspection plan has not been drawn up and not a single vessel has been inspected. Such Russia’s actions threaten the functioning of all agreements. To date, at least 50 ships cannot cross the Bosphorus. The Russian side is trying to establish control over the number of loaded fleet and the direction of its work, violating international norms and the grain deal provisions, as well as to damage the Ukrainian economy.

Vladimir Putin is trying by all means to persuade Ukraine and the international community to negotiate, as the Russian army is losing the war in Ukraine. That is why the grain initiative is under constant pressure, and the chance of its failure is too great. Not negotiations, but tough sanctions against the Russian economy, and the supply of weapons for the Ukrainian army are needed as a response to Moscow’s blackmailing.