U.S. To Russia: Stop Using World’s Food As Weapon In War

The State Department said on Thursday it was "deeply concerned" with Russia’s interference with the Black Sea Grain Initiative, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

“Twice in the last two weeks, the Russian Federation’s delegation at the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul has prevented the continued inspection of ships seeking to sail into Ukraine ports to collect grain,” Principal Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel told a daily press briefing.

“Russia must stop using the world’s food as a weapon in its war on Ukraine and allow the Black Sea Grain Initiative to operate at its maximum potential. Ukrainian grain should reach the world unimpeded,” he added.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative is a vital tool to combat global food insecurity and stabilize food prices. Over 9 months, the initiative has moved 28 million tons of food onto the global market, according to Patel.

The U.S. "strongly supports" the efforts of UN Secretary-General Guterres, in partnership with Türkiye, to extend and expand this lifesaving initiative, he added.

Alex Raufoglu