“I condemn Russia's unilateral decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, despite the efforts by our Ally Türkiye and the UN. Russia's illegal war against Ukraine continues to harm millions of vulnerable people around the world,” Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter.

The Black Sea Grain Deal is an agreement between Russia, Ukraine, Türkiye, and the United Nations that was reached in late June. The deal aims to allow the safe export of grain from Ukraine, which is currently blocked by Russia's naval blockade.

On Monday, the Kremlin announced that Russia had halted its participation in a deal that allowed Ukraine to ship grain through the Black Sea to parts of the world struggling with hunger, dealing a blow to global food security after Moscow’s invasion last year sent prices soaring.

Russia's decision to withdraw from the initiative is a major setback for efforts to export grain from Ukraine. The country is a major exporter of wheat and corn, and the blockade has caused global food prices to soar. (ILKHA)