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Transcript/ScriptUKRAINE RUSSIA GRAIN INITIATIVE
HEADLINE: Russia Threatens Ukraine Grain Deal Termination Over Reported G-7 Export Ban
TEASER: UN urges Moscow to renew grain agreement amid fears of upward spike in global food prices
PUBLISHED AT: 04/24/2023 at 4:56p
BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: London
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Zoom, Reuters, APTN, AFP
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:02
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[Russia has threatened to scrap an initiative that enables the safe export of grain from Ukrainian Black Sea ports to the world market. The threat comes after members of the Group of Seven leading industrial nations warned they may impose further sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Henry Ridgwell reports.]]
((NARRATOR))
The Group of Seven leading industrial nations are considering a near total ban on all exports to Russia, according to Japan's Kyodo news agency, citing Japanese government sources.
Russia’s former President Dmitry Medvedev said Sunday that if such a ban happens, Moscow will terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
That agreement – brokered by the United Nations and Turkey – enables the vital export of grain from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports to world markets through the joint inspection of vessels at a facility in Istanbul.
Ukraine is the world’s fifth-biggest producer. Around 28 million tons of grain have been exported under the deal since July. Experts warn its termination could have a devastating impact amid a global food crisis.
((Ian Mitchell, Center for Global Development (in English) ))
“If the Black Sea deal isn't renewed and Ukraine can't export, then I expect to see food commodity prices to increase substantially again.”
((NARRATOR))
Russia had already said last month it might not renew the grain deal beyond its expiry on May 18.
Moscow says a separate but parallel ‘memorandum of understanding’ it agreed to with the United Nations, to help Russia’s own agriculture sector in the face of Western sanctions, is failing.
((Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (in Russian) ))
“Namely, the removal of any obstacles to the export of Russian fertilizers and grain — practically nothing has been done here.”
((NARRATOR))
Despite that claim, figures show Russian wheat exports actually doubled over the past year.
Among the Kremlin’s demands are the return of the Russian Agricultural Bank to the SWIFT global payment system…
…the resumption of supplies of farm machinery to Russia, and the lifting of restrictions on insurance and access to ports for Russian ships and cargo.
((Stephen Flynn, Northeastern University Global Resilience Institute))
((cf. Zoom logo))
“Certainly, those demands cannot be fully met. And the Russians know it. They're again trying to leverage the food to get all the concessions they can get. They’re doing it at a time when it’s almost certain that we’re going to see an uptick in the conflict, with the Ukrainians potentially trying to really push back the Russian positions.”
((NARRATOR))
So what if Russia does terminate the grain initiative?
((Stephen Flynn, Northeastern University Global Resilience Institute))
((cf. Zoom logo))
“If Russia clearly decides to be aggressive and mine the areas where the ships move, [or] potentially target those ships, then the ships aren’t going to move and insurance rates would go very high. Decisions would be made by ship owners not to come into the Black Sea. And that would really put a strangle on the flow of grains.”
((NARRATOR))
The United Nations and the G-7 have urged Russia to renew the grain initiative – warning that any disruption could significantly increase food prices and endanger lives in the world’s poorest nations.
((Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
LONDON
Embargo DateApril 24, 2023 16:47 EDT
Byline
((Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
