US welcomes quadrilateral deal for safe passage of agricultural goods on Black Sea

Washington: The United States of America has welcomed the commitment between the United Nations, the Republic of Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia to a plan for resuming Ukrainian exports through the Black Sea and getting millions of tons of Ukrainian grain to those who need it around the world. At the same time, Washington announced new military assistance for Ukraine.

Commending the UN Secretary-General Guterres and Turkish President Recep Erdoğan for their committed diplomatic efforts to mediate these discussions, the US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken stated that the UN-brokered deal is a positive step toward addressing the far-reaching impacts of Russia’s war. “The international community must now hold Russia accountable for this deal, ending its effective blockade of Ukraine’s ports and ensuring Ukrainian agricultural goods — including grain, oilseeds, and sunflower oil — reach world markets,” Blinken stated.

The US has charged Russia with weaponizing food since the beginning of the war with Ukraine. Blinken said an end to Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s agricultural exports through the Black Sea is, therefore, only one of the many steps Russia needs to take to ensure that food from Ukraine makes it to global markets.

“The world’s hungry cannot wait, and we expect the implementation of today’s deal to commence swiftly and proceed without interruption or interference,” Blinken said.

The US further claimed that global food security will remain at risk for as long as Russia continues its “unjustified and brutal”aggression against Ukraine.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres meanwhile remarked at the signing of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, in Istanbul on July 22, 2022, that this was an agreement for the world –  “It will bring relief for developing countries on the edge of bankruptcy and the most vulnerable people on the edge of famine.  And it will help stabilize global food prices which were already at record levels even before the war — a true nightmare for developing countries.”

Specifically, the initiative opens a path for significant volumes of commercial food exports from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea — Odesa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhne, Guterres said, and hoped that the shipment of grain and food stocks into the world markets will help bridge the global food supply gap and reduce pressure on high prices.

“This is an unprecedented agreement between two parties engaged in bloody conflict.  But that conflict continues.  People are dying every day.  Fighting is raging every day. The beacon of hope on the Black Sea is shining bright today, thanks to the collective efforts of so many. In these trying and turbulent times for the region and our globe, let that beacon guide the way towards easing human suffering and securing peace.”

Guterres though claimed this agreement did not come easy. “Since the war started, I have been highlighting that there is no solution to the global food crisis without ensuring full global access to Ukraine’s food products and Russian food and fertilizers.  Today, we took important steps to achieve this objective.  But it has been a long road,” he disclosed.

He elaborated: “In April, after being received by President Erdoğan, I met with President Vladimir V. Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to propose a plan for solutions.  We have been working every day since. It took immense efforts and commitment by all sides and weeks of around-the-clock negotiations.  That commitment and dedication are even more vital today,” he said

The UN Secretary-General stressed that this initiative must be fully implemented because the world so desperately needs it to tackle the global food crisis.  “We count on the Government of Türkiye to maintain its critical role going forward. I am here to pledge the full commitment of the United Nations.  We will remain closely involved in working for the agreement’s success.  We are ramping up efforts to ensure the United Nations is positioned to deliver on its commitments,” he said.

Guterres also announced the establishment of a Joint Coordination Centre to monitor the implementation of the Black Sea initiative.

According to Blinken, the people of Ukraine inspire the world as they defend their country and their freedom in the face of Russia’s brutal and unprovoked aggression. “The United States continues to stand with Allies and partners from more than 50 countries in providing vital security assistance to support Ukraine’s defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russia’s aggression,” he said.

Today, pursuant to a delegation of authority from the President, Blinken also authorized the sixteenth drawdown since August 2021 of up to $175 million in arms and equipment from U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) inventories for Ukraine’s self-defence.

Today’s announcement includes more HIMARS advanced rocket systems and other weapons that Ukrainians are using so effectively on the battlefield to defend their country.  This drawdown, combined with an additional $95 million announced separately today under DoD’s Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, will bring total U.S. military assistance to Ukraine to approximately $8.2 billion since the beginning of this Administration.