Ukraine, Russia Sign Deal to Export Grain Amid Global Food Crisis

Ukraine and Russia signed separate agreements on Friday to resume Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea. 

The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in Istanbul, is the first major agreement between Ukraine and Russia since the start of the invasion. The deal frees up millions of tons of grain and other food products stuck in Ukraine, previously the world’s fifth-largest wheat exporter and fourth-largest corn exporter. U.N. officials said shipments would begin in the next few weeks; prior to the war, major importers of Ukrainian grains included China, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, India, the E.U. and more. 

International leaders praised the deal; U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called it “a beacon of hope,” and Red Cross Director-General Robert Mardini said it was “nothing short of lifesaving for people across the world who are struggling to feed their families.” Global food insecurity was already rising before the war; without access to Ukrainian grain, many countries — particularly in the Middle East and Africa — faced higher food prices and shortages.

Coverage across the spectrum framed the deal positively. Internationally-focused outlets like The New York Times (Lean Left bias), Reuters (Center bias) and BBC News (Center bias) featured the story more prominently than other outlets did. While most coverage discussed a “food crisis,” Russian state-backed outlet RT (Lean Right bias) said there were “food crisis concerns.”