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[Russia on Monday ended the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which guaranteed the free flow of Ukrainian grain to the rest of the world. Poor nations already struggling with food insecurity are expected to be affected the worst. VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias explains.]]
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptUkraine Russia Grain))
HEADLINE: US Explores Alternatives After Russia Blocked Flow of Ukrainian Grains
TEASER: Halt of Black Sea Grain Initiative expected to deepen food insecurity in poor nations
PUBLISHED AT: 07/17/2023 at 7:55 pm
BYLINE: Veronica Balderas Iglesias
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Bowman, Mia Bush
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Agencies, Skype, UNTV
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:30
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: ((Radio Tracks for Reversioning Included))
((TV INTRO))
[[Russia on Monday ended the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which guaranteed the free flow of Ukrainian grain to the rest of the world. Poor nations already struggling with food insecurity are expected to be affected the worst. VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias explains.]]
((NARRATOR))
Ships transporting Ukrainian grains to food-insecure countries will no longer be guaranteed a safe passage in the Black Sea. Russia halted the so-called Black Sea Grain Initiative
after complaining about the effects of Western restrictions on Russian food and fertilizer products.
[[RADIO INTRO: Kremlin Spokesperson, Dmytri Peskov]]
((Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin Spokesperson (male, Russian))
“As soon as the stipulated part of the Black Sea agreements related to Russia is fulfilled, Russia will immediately return to the implementation of the deal.”
((Mandatory cg: UNTV))
((NARRATOR))
Turkey and the United Nations brokered the deal last summer to ease the repercussions of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
[[RADIO INTRO: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.]]
((Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General)) ((Mandatory cg: UNTV))
“This initiative has ensured the safe passage of over 32 million metric tons of food commodities from Ukrainian ports. // Hundreds of millions of people face hunger, and consumers are confronting a global cost of living crisis. They will pay the price.”
((NARRATOR))
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also decried Russia’s decision as he noted that food prices have already jumped.
((Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State))
“We'll look to see what else can be done to find other ways to get Ukrainian food products on the world market, including, again, moving as Ukraine has already been doing, moving things out through rail, and by road, but in terms of the volumes necessary, it's really hard to replace what's now being lost as a result of Russia weaponizing food.”
((NARRATOR))
African countries already struggling with the effects of climate change will be particularly hurt by Russia’s decision,
said Kate Phillips-Barrasso with the humanitarian organization Mercy Corps.
((Kate Phillips-Barrasso, Mercy Corps)) ((Skype))
“It's not just grain that's not getting out of Ukraine, but it's also fertilizers, which are really essential and required for producing food on a mass scale.”
((NARRATOR))
As the threat of hunger rises, another group is calling on the United States to ramp up its support for ongoing humanitarian efforts.
[[Radio: Bob Kitchen is with the International Rescue Committee.]]
((Bob Kitchen, International Rescue Committee)) ((Skype))
“The U.S. should get the checkbook out and make sure that they are saving lives through donating funds to these countries that need it the most.”
Ukrainian officials told VOA that their exports will be badly affected by the Kremlin’s decision, but that they will try to find other methods to distribute their products.
((Veronica Balderas Iglesias, VOA News, Washington
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Washington D. C.
Embargo DateJuly 17, 2023 20:11 EDT
Byline
Veronica Balderas Iglesias, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
