Blinken Accuses Russia of ‘Weaponizing Food’ After It Pulls Out of Black Sea Grain Deal

Blinken Accuses Russia of ‘Weaponizing Food’ , After It Pulls Out of Black Sea Grain Deal.

The Black Sea Grain Deal was brokered by the U.N.

And Turkey in July 2022 in an attempt to fight a global food crisis made worse by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On July 17, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia would no longer participate in the deal if its demands to export Moscow's goods aren't met.

When the part of the Black Sea deal related to Russia is implemented, Russia will immediately return to the implementation of the deal, Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, via statement.

During a press conference, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the agreement "to at least allow the grain and other food products to get out of Ukraine and on to world markets"... .

... has resulted in the delivery of 32 million tons of products to other countries.

So the result of Russia’s action today — weaponizing food, using it as a tool, as a weapon in its war against Ukraine — will be to make food harder to come by in places that desperately need it, and have prices rise, Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, via statement.

We’re already seeing the market react to this as prices are going up, Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, via statement.

Blinkin went on to call Russia's actions "unconscionable.".

The bottom line is it’s unconscionable.

It should not happen.

This should be restored as quickly as possible.

And I hope that every country is watching this very closely.

, Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, via statement.

They will see that Russia is responsible for denying food to people who desperately need it around the world, and to contribute to rising prices at a time when many countries continue to experience very difficult inflation, Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, via statement