The G7 agriculture ministers issued a communique on April 23, urging for the extension, full implementation, and expansion of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI), a critical deal allowing Ukraine to export over 27 million tonnes of grain through its Black Sea ports.
The deal was signed in Istanbul last July, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey.
However, Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022, has indicated that it will not allow the deal to continue after May 18 due to unmet demands to facilitate its own grain and fertilizer exports.
The communique strongly condemned Russia’s use of food as a means of destabilization and geopolitical coercion.
The G7 members reiterated their commitment to acting in solidarity and supporting those most affected by Russia’s weaponization of food.
The document also stated that G7 members are prepared to provide expertise in de-mining agricultural land and reconstructing agricultural infrastructure to support the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is scheduled to meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York this week to discuss the Ukraine Black Sea grain export deal.