Russia blames Western sanctions for collapse of UN food deal

"Russia claimed on July 12 that its agreement with the United Nations to facilitate Russian food exports had collapsed due to Western sanctions imposed after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

A day earlier, the U.N. announced that the three-year agreement would end on July 22. The deal was first signed in 2022 in an effort to bring down global food prices. It facilitated the export of Russian food and fertilizer products despite wartime sanctions.
The deal "will not be renewed" because of disagreements, a source close to the discussions told the Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on July 12 saying an extension on the deal was not "envisaged" and blaming the agreement's collapse on Western sanctions." KI