By Jared Malsin
ISTANBUL--Russia said on Monday that it was withdrawing from an international agreement that allowed Ukraine to resume much of its Black Sea grain exports, raising concerns about a key link in the global food supply chain.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Monday the deal had terminated but that Russia would rejoin the agreement if its demands were met, according to the Russian state news agency TASS. Russia has repeatedly threatened to pull out of the agreement demanding that the West facilitate its own exports of food and fertilizers.
"The grain deal is terminated. As soon as the Russian part is fulfilled, Russia will immediately resume implementation of the deal," he said.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine forced a halt to all exports from Ukraine's main Black Sea ports, contributing to a surge in global food prices and contributing to fears that the war could push millions of people around the world closer to starvation.
The agreement between Russia, Ukraine and Turkey, facilitated by the United Nations, was signed in Istanbul in July last year, permitting Ukrainian exporters to resume shipping corn, wheat, sunflower oil and other goods from three ports around the city of Odessa.
Ukraine has exported more than 32 million tons of food products since shipments resumed last August.
Write to Jared Malsin at jared.malsin@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
07-17-23 0559ET
