This multilateral agreement temporarily restored Ukrainian grain exports during wartime, helping to ease a global food crisis affecting lower-income countries.
Key Facts
- Signing date
- 22 July 2022
- Initial validity period
- 120 days
- Shipments completed by mid-July 2023
- More than 1000
- Grain exported by mid-July 2023
- Nearly 33 million tonnes
- Destination countries
- 45 countries
- Agreement expiry
- 17 July 2023
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine halted maritime grain shipments from Ukrainian Black Sea ports and temporarily disrupted Russian grain exports as well, causing a sharp rise in world food prices and threatening famine in lower-income countries. Concerns that Russia was weaponizing food supplies prompted international efforts to find a solution.
Following negotiations hosted by Turkey and supported by the UN, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the UN signed the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul on 22 July 2022. The agreement established safe export corridors from designated Ukrainian ports and created a joint coordination and inspection center in Turkey, with the UN acting as secretariat.
The initiative was extended multiple times and facilitated over 1,000 shipments carrying nearly 33 million tonnes of food products to 45 countries before Russia allowed the agreement to expire in July 2023. Russia's temporary suspension following a Black Sea drone attack, and its eventual withdrawal, highlighted the fragility of wartime diplomatic arrangements.
Political Outcome
Agreement signed and repeatedly extended, facilitating grain exports until Russia allowed it to expire on 17 July 2023.