Russia deals blow to food security by halting wartime deal allowing Ukraine to ship grain

Russia issued a major blow to global food security on Monday by halting a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to ship grain to Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative is suspended until Moscow's demands for food and fertilizer are met, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to The Associated Press. Russia has complained about the restrictions placed on its shipments and insurance that have made agricultural exports more difficult, but it has still managed to ship record amounts of wheat.

"When the part of the Black Sea deal related to Russia is implemented, Russia will immediately return to the implementation of the deal," Peskov said.

The United Nations and Turkey brokered a deal last summer to allow food to leave the Black Sea region over concerns of a global food crisis. That agreement was renewed in May for 60 days, but the number of vessels leaving Ukraine has plunged recently while Russia is accused of preventing the ships from leaving.

Russia's latest move is expected to send grain prices up, disproportionately affecting people in developing nations.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.