The grain agreement will not be extended, AP reports. The agreement has allowed Ukraine to transport grain across the Black Sea and has helped prevent famine in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
A total of 45 countries received grain shipments from Ukraine under the initiative. Asia accounted for 46 percent of imports, while 40 percent went to Western Europe, 12 percent went to Africa and one percent went to Eastern Europe, according to the United Nations.
Despite negotiations and global pressure, Russia has refused to extend the grain agreement, unless the EU eases restrictions and admits the country to the Swift international banking system.
UN warning
The country has also complained that their food exports have been hampered as a result of the agreement. But according to several analysts and data on exports, record amounts have been transported from Russia, according to AP.
The agreement was concluded with the help of the UN and Turkey last summer and made it possible for food and other foodstuffs to travel across the Black Sea, despite international sanctions against Russia.
The UN warns that food prices are expected to increase sharply in the countries that previously benefited from the agreement.