The U.S. is responding to Russia’s threats to abandon the Black Sea grain deal.
The state department says Russia has no right to do so. The agreement has freed up more than a million tons of Ukrainian grain and food, easing inflation. Officials also point out U.S. sanctions on Russia have never targeted humanitarian assistance so Russia must live up to its commitment to see food and fertilizer on global markets.
Russia’s threat to abandon the United Nations brokered deal comes after it cut off gas supplies to some of Europe.
“I believe there were allegations that grain was not going to countries that needed it. That simply is not the case, either. Because of this arrangement, grain has been able to reach global markets and go to countries that need it desperately. And some of these other allegations that we’ve seen that one, global food prices are rising just aren’t the case. In fact, global food prices have fallen as a result of the Black Sea port arrangement,” said State Department Principal Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel.
Regarding the Russian gas flow, the European Union met today to consider a price cap. Farm and food lobby groups says they support any effort to bring down prices. They say the EU needs to have better oversight of gas rationing plans.
Hungarian and Czech leaders pushed back at the meeting saying a price cap is not in their interest. Russia says it will stop selling to countries that put a price cap on energy.
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