France calls on Russia to ‘stop blackmail’ over Black Sea grain deal withdrawal

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - France on Monday called on Russia to “stop its blackmail on global food security” after Moscow pulled out from the Black Sea grain deal despite Türkiye's efforts to mediate.

"France condemns Russia’s suspension of its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Russia alone is responsible for blocking navigation in that maritime area and is imposing an illegal blockade on Ukrainian ports," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"It (Russia) must stop its blackmail on global food security and reverse its decision," the statement said.

The ministry said that France, together with its partners, "will continue to step up its action to reduce the food insecurity risks hanging over the most vulnerable populations around the world, including through the EU’s Solidarity Lanes, which play an essential role and have enabled 38 million tons of grain to be exported from Ukraine since March 2022."

France has also increased its international food aid to more than €840 million (nearly $944 million) for 2023 to assist people suffering from food poverty and malnutrition, it added.

Earlier on Monday, the Kremlin announced that it has suspended the deal saying that the Russian part of the agreement was not implemented.

The agreement, initially signed in July of last year in Istanbul by Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine, was aimed at resuming grain exports from Ukrainian ports. These exports had been halted as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian war which began in February 2022.

A Joint Coordination Center was set up in Istanbul last year with officials from the three countries and the UN to oversee the shipments.

The deal has been renewed several times since then, and it was extended for another two months on May 18.