Russia Accuses Western Sanctions of Derailing UN Food Export Agreement

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

MOSCOW— The Russian government has blamed sweeping Western sanctions for the breakdown of a United Nations-brokered deal that aimed to ensure the continued export of Russian food and fertilizers despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.

On Saturday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the agreement, set to expire on July 22, would not be renewed, accusing the West of blocking essential trade through punitive measures.

“The extension of the agreement is not envisaged,” the ministry said in an official statement.

Originally signed on July 22, 2022, the UN-Russia agreement was designed to ease global food price pressures by allowing Russian grain and fertilizer exports to flow even as Western countries imposed sanctions over Moscow’s military invasion of Ukraine.

The deal was part of broader international efforts to protect vulnerable nations from food insecurity and supply shortages triggered by the conflict

On Friday, the United Nations confirmed the agreement will formally end on July 22.

Diplomatic sources cited by AFP revealed that negotiations collapsed due to irreconcilable differences between Russia and UN mediators.

Russia claims that despite supposed carve-outs for food and fertilizer, Western sanctions have crippled its agricultural exports by restricting access to shipping insurance, financial services, and logistics networks.

Moscow insists that these hidden barriers are weaponizing food trade and harming developing countries that depend on Russian fertilizers for their crops

Analysts warn that the collapse of the agreement could further destabilize global food markets and drive up prices—particularly in poorer nations that rely on Russian fertilizers to sustain agricultural production.

The UN has repeatedly called on all parties to ensure that food and fertilizer exports remain free from political and military tensions, arguing it is critical to avoid a humanitarian crisis.

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