The Black Sea grain deal was a landmark agreement signed in July 2022 by Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations to allow the safe transportation of grain and other foodstuffs from Ukrainian ports to the rest of the world. The deal was seen as a vital lifeline for global food security, as Ukraine is one of the world’s largest grain exporters and its supplies were severely disrupted by the Russian invasion that began in February 2022.
The deal established a maritime humanitarian corridor from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea – Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi (formerly known as Yuzhny) – to Istanbul, where ships would be inspected by teams composed of Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian and UN inspectors. The corridor was monitored 24/7 by a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) based in Istanbul.
The deal also included a separate memorandum that minimized the impact of sanctions on the export of Russian food and fertilizer. Both memorandums were subject to periodic reviews.
The deal was hailed as one of the few diplomatic achievements since the war started and a win-win situation for all parties involved. It helped Ukraine to resume its vital role as a breadbasket for the world, especially for low- and middle-income countries that depend on its affordable and high-quality grain. It also helped Russia to maintain its access to global markets for its food and fertilizer products. It also benefited Turkey, which has a close relationship with both Russia and Ukraine, and which oversees the maritime traffic in the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits under the Montreux convention signed in 1936. And it also served the interests of the UN, which was concerned about the rising food prices and the risk of famine in many regions due to the disruption of supplies.
According to UN figures, about 33 million tonnes of grain left Ukraine’s ports in the year to July 2023, of which about 61% went to low- and middle-income countries, and 65% of wheat alone. The World Food Programme bought about 750,000 tonnes of Ukrainian grain that was shipped immediately to places such as Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan. Partly as a result of this, the price of grain per bushel stabilized at $800 (£620), down from a high of $1,360.
However, the deal has recently faced serious challenges that threaten its continuation and effectiveness. Russia has accused Ukraine of violating the terms of the deal by diverting some of its grain exports to NATO countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia. Russia has also claimed that only a small fraction of the grain exported under the deal has reached the poorest countries, while most of it has been sold to wealthier nations at high prices.
Russia has responded by slowing down inspections and threatening to sink ships delivering cargo to Ukraine, calling them “legitimate targets”. Russia has also conducted cruise missile drills in the Black Sea, sending a clear message of intimidation to Ukraine and its partners. These actions have reduced the number of ships leaving Ukraine’s ports from 10 a day in October 2022 to two a day in May 2023.
Ukraine has denied any wrongdoing and accused Russia of sabotaging the deal for political reasons. Ukraine has also condemned Poland’s decision to retain its ban on Ukrainian grain exports via land routes, calling it “unfriendly” and “unjustified”. Poland has cited concerns about possible contamination of its crops by pests and diseases from Ukraine as well as its own domestic needs.
The UN has urged all parties to respect and uphold the deal, warning that any disruption could have dire consequences for global food security and stability. The UN has also called for dialogue and cooperation among all stakeholders to resolve any disputes peacefully and constructively.