Blinken Accuses Russia of ‘Weaponizing Food’ , After It Pulls Out of Black Sea Grain Deal.<br />The Black Sea Grain Deal was brokered by the U.N. <br />and Turkey in July 2022 in an attempt to fight a global <br />food crisis made worse by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.<br />On July 17, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov <br />said that Russia would no longer participate in the deal <br />if its demands to export Moscow's goods aren't met.<br />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.<br />During a press conference, Secretary of State <br />Antony Blinken said that the agreement "to at <br />least allow the grain and other food products to <br />get out of Ukraine and on to world markets"... .<br />... has resulted in the delivery of 32 million tons of products to other countries.<br />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.<br />We’re already seeing the market react to this as prices are going up, Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, via statement.<br />Blinkin went on to call Russia's <br />actions "unconscionable.".<br />The bottom line is it’s unconscionable. <br />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.<br />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
