Black Sea freedom of navigation crucial to global food security – UN

The United Nations has stated that an agreement on freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, ensuring the protection of civilian vessels and port infrastructure, would be a crucial contribution to global food security and supply chains.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric made this statement on Wednesday.

Recall that on Tuesday, the United States announced separate agreements with Ukraine and Russia to pause their strikes in the Black Sea and against each other's energy targets. However, rhetoric from Moscow and Kyiv suggested that they remained far apart.

Dujarric said the United Nations has been consistently working on the issue, particularly since UN Secretary-General António Guterres wrote to the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey in February last year to propose a plan for safe and free navigation in the Black Sea.

It was reported that the United Nations and Turkey brokered the Black Sea Initiative between Russia and Ukraine in July 2022 to facilitate the safe export of Ukrainian grain.

Under an accompanying three-year memorandum of understanding, UN officials reportedly agreed to assist Russia in moving its food and fertiliser exports to foreign markets.

However, Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Initiative in July 2023, citing serious obstacles to its food and fertiliser exports.

Top UN trade official Rebeca Grynspan is said to have continued working with Russia on implementing the memorandum of understanding and most recently met with Russian officials in Moscow on Monday.

“The United Nations also remains closely engaged in the continued implementation of the memorandum of understanding.

“The Secretary-General's good offices remain available to support all efforts towards peace,” Dujarric said.