Press Releases
Termination of the "Black Sea Grain Initiative", a four-party agreement (UN, Türkiye, Ukraine and Russia) on grain exports from Ukraine through the Black Sea (Statement by Foreign Minister HAYASHI Yoshimasa)
July 18, 2023
- While Russia's aggression against Ukraine has aggravated global food security, on July 17, Russia unilaterally terminated its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) which has allowed grain exports from Ukraine through the Black Sea under an agreement among the United Nations, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Russia, despite the strenuous mediation efforts of the UN and Türkiye. Japan deplores the current situation and condemns Russia for terminating their participation. It is Russia that bears ultimate responsibility for the negative effects stemming from this decision.
- Since its launch in July last year, the BSGI has delivered more than 32 million tons of grain and other commodities to countries and regions in dire need of food, mainly to the Global South, and has contributed to food price stability and global food security.
- We appreciate the arduous work done by the United Nations and Türkiye, to extend and implement the Black Sea Grains Initiative. We will continue to closely monitor and support the efforts of both parties. At the G7 Hiroshima Summit in this May, Japan, together with the G7 and invited countries, issued the Hiroshima Action Statement for Resilient Global Food Security, calling for continuation and full implementation of smooth operation of the BSGI at its maximum potential and for as long as necessary. In cooperation with the G7 and the international community, Japan will continue to strongly urge Russia to return to the international framework and to resume the grain export from Ukraine.
- Japan, through international organizations, has been supporting facilitation of Ukraine‘s grain export and providing food-related assistance to the regions such as the Middle East and Africa which face food shortages. We also support the EU's "Solidarity Lanes" initiative to transport Ukrainian grain and food by land.
- Japan is paying close attention to the ramifications of Russia's decision on the global food supply, in order to prevent the ramifications of this decision on vulnerable people such as the spread of hunger in developing countries. Japan will also continue to contribute to supporting grain export from Ukraine and strengthening global food security through cooperation with the international community.