Russia-Ukraine war: NATO says Russia must renew grain deal

The war Russia is waging on Ukraine has affected the supply of grain to countries in need. The NATO alliance has called on Moscow to renew the United Nations-brokered deal that would allow exports of grain after it pulled out of the agreement.

NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said Sunday that Russia must renew the deal it has with Ukraine over grain exports through the Black Sea. Lungescu said Vladimir Putin must stop trying to weaponize food while calling on the Russian leader to end the war since invading Ukraine back on February 24.

“President Putin must stop weaponizing food and end his illegal war on Ukraine,” said Lungescu. “We call on Russia to reconsider its decision and renew the deal urgently, enabling food to reach those who need it most.”

Lungescu noted that all the countries under the NATO alliance welcomed the agreement that member country Turkey also oversaw. Lungescu said the exports of grain from Ukraine had helped lower food prices in the world.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also criticized Russia’s withdrawal from the UN-brokered grain deal Saturday. Blinken said Russia was weaponizing food by worsening the humanitarian crises.

“Any act by Russia to disrupt these critical grain exports is essentially a statement that people and families around the world should pay more for food or go hungry,” said Blinken in a statement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said Saturday that Russia’s suspension of the Black Sea grain export needed a strong response from the international community, such as the United Nations, as well as the G20 group of countries. During his nightly address, Zelenskyy said Russia was trying to create an artificial famine in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia.

On Monday, the UN, Turkey, and Ukraine agreed on an October 31 movement plan for 16 vessels in Turkish waters. The Joint Coordination Center, where Turkish, Russian, Ukrainian, and UN personnel are working, issued a statement also saying that the three delegations came to an agreement for inspections on 40 outbound ships carrying grain.

The JCC also said the Russian delegation was informed of the plans by the three delegations.