How to Defeat Putin’s Grain Blockade
The Russian leader is weaponizing food to weaken Ukraine and test Western resolve. Coordinated and decisive action is needed to ensure he fails.
The world’s bread basket is under threat again.
Photographer: Andrew Kravchennko/Bloomberg
As the war in Ukraine grinds on, Vladimir Putin has again resorted to weaponizing food supplies — attacking Ukraine’s grain silos and withdrawing from a deal to allow food exports through the Black Sea to Turkey. As ever, Putin’s aim is to hurt Ukraine, while wringing concessions from Ukraine’s partners and testing their resolve. The West must ensure he fails.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey a year ago, was a rare diplomatic breakthrough. Ukraine has long been Europe’s breadbasket, but Russia’s invasion largely halted grain and other key exports from the region. The deal allowed Ukraine to export over 33 million tons of grain and other food products through the Black Sea, with 65% of wheat products going to markets in the developing world.