At the annual G20 summit held in New Delhi, Charles Michel, President of the European Council, delivered a stinging rebuke to Russia for its withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal. The European Union (EU) leader criticized Moscow’s actions as “cynical” and derided its offer of one million tons of grain to African countries as a “parody of generosity.” This strong condemnation came amidst escalating tensions surrounding the agreement and its impact on global food security.

Russia’s decision to exit the Black Sea grain deal sent shockwaves through the international community. The agreement, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, had been in place for just a year before Moscow’s abrupt withdrawal. Russia cited obstacles to its food and fertilizer exports and claimed that insufficient Ukrainian grain was being allocated to countries in need. This move left many wondering about the motivations behind Russia’s actions and the repercussions for vulnerable nations.

In his address at the G20 summit, President Michel expressed Europe’s deep disappointment with Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal. He pointed out that the deal had successfully delivered more than 30 times the volume of grain offered to Africa by Russia. “And what cynicism … you did not accept this,” Michel said, directing his remarks at the Russian representative, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The European leader did not mince words, accusing Russia not only of pulling out of the agreement but also of obstructing port infrastructure critical for Black Sea and Danube access.

Kremlin’s Response and International Efforts

As tensions flared, the Kremlin stood firm on its conditions for rejoining the deal. Russian officials maintained that their food and fertilizer exports had been hindered, and they demanded changes before returning to the agreement. Meanwhile, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida regarding efforts to revive the deal. The discussions hinted at a possible resolution but left many questions unanswered. Erdogan’s recent remarks had suggested the potential for a revival, provided Ukraine softened its negotiating stance and redirected grain exports to Africa. However, Ukraine remained opposed to the idea of easing sanctions.