Black Sea Grain Initiative

The Black Sea Grain Initiative was an agreement between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the United Nations (UN). It took place during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The February 2022 invasion led to a complete halt of maritime grain shipments from Ukraine, previously a major exporter via the Black Sea. Additionally, Russia temporarily halted its grain exports, further exacerbating the situation. This resulted in a rise in world food prices, the threat of famine in lower-income countries, and accusations that Russia was weaponizing food supplies. To address the issue, discussions began in April, hosted by Turkey and supported by the UN. The resulting agreement was signed in Istanbul on 22 July, valid for a period of 120 days. The July agreement created procedures to safely export grain from certain ports to attempt to address a worldwide food crisis. A joint coordination and inspection center was set up in Turkey, with the UN serving as secretariat.