The United States is calling on Russia to resume participation in the grain initiative, as Russia's statements about its withdrawal have "an immediate harmful effect on global food security."
This was stated by Ned Price, a representative of the US State Department, writes "Voice of America".
"Russia is once again making food a weapon in a war it started. The most effective way to ensure food security would be for Russia to return to the agreement and stop the war against Ukraine," said Ned Price, a spokesman for the US State Department.
Price emphasized that the United States calls on Russia to resume participation in the grain initiative.
"We want this initiative to be revived. We call on Russia to respect the commitments it has made. ... Not to stand in the way of the supply of much-needed grain and other food products," said a representative of the US State Department.
According to him, no other country "can replace Ukraine's ability to export grain through the Black Sea."
"Any actions of Russia aimed at hindering the export of critically important grain essentially indicate that the Kremlin does not care whether people and families around the world pay more for food or starve," said the representative of the State Department.
According to him, Russia's attempts to obtain concessions in exchange for returning to the grain agreement will mean "collective punishment or collective extortion."
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that the reason for suspending Moscow's participation in the "grain agreement" was a threat from Ukraine, and only in the case of security guarantees in the Black Sea can it reconsider this decision.
At the same time, the UN does not believe that Russia's suspension of participation in the "grain agreement" means its loss of power, and UN inspectors will continue to inspect ships that transport grain from Ukrainian ports.