A BROKEN INITIATIVE
A BROKEN INITIATIVE AND CHANGING STATISTICAL NARRATIVES
THE INITIATIVE:
The so-called “Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports” was concluded on July 22, 2022.
The purpose of this initiative was “to facilitate the safe navigation for the EXPORT OF GRAIN AND RELATED FOODSTAFF AND FERTILIZERS, INCLUDING AMMONIA from the Ports of Odesa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny (“the Ukrainian ports”)”.
The full text of the initiative can be read here
In terms of grain export, almost 33 million tons of grain and other foodstuffs had been exported via the Black Sea Grain Initiative – Maize 51%, Wheat 27%, Sunflower products 11%, Others 10% (Source: European Council of the European Union)
Regarding ammonia export, the flow via pipeline was blocked after February 24, 2022, and it was never resumed.
THUS, THE INITIATIVE WAS BROKEN.
In addition to this, the Tolyatti-Odesa AMMONIA PIPELINE (the biggest in the world) WAS BLOWN UP on June 7, 2023. Both Russia and Ukraine traded accusations for the damage, so it is unclear what actually happened.
However, after blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines last year and the leaked intelligence info in 2023 about the Ukrainian leader considering blowing up the oil pipeline to Hungary, we all grew up and we know “who is who”.
THE CHANGING STATISTICAL NARRATIVES:
Certain individuals trumpeted that it is the most vulnerable nations, in Africa that will suffer from hunger, because of Russia.
Eventually, after one year, only LESS THAN 3% OF THE EXPORTED PRODUCTS, “over 725 000 tonnes of wheat left Ukrainian ports to Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, and Djibouti during the implementation of the initiative” (Source: June 21, 2022, European Commission).
Remember these statements and press releases?
“Russia is deliberately weaponizing food and hunger to wield global power, according to European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen, who warned that it is the world’s most vulnerable who will bear the brunt of its actions" (Source: May 24, 2022 - EURACTIV).
“Food security: EU to step up its support to African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine” (Source: June 21, 2022 - European Commission)
“President Biden will announce $2.76 billion in additional U.S. Government funding commitments to help protect the world’s most vulnerable populations and mitigate the impacts of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine on growing food insecurity and malnutrition” (Source: June 28, 2022 - White House Statement)
“Ukrainian agricultural products are critical to global food security. The United States supports the Turkey and UN-brokered deal between Ukraine and Russia to resume Ukrainian agricultural exports via the Black Sea, and we are closely monitoring Russia’s adherence to the deal’s terms” (Source: August 30, 2022 - U.S. Department of State)
NONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS EVER TALKED ABOUT UKRAINE’S ADHERENCE TO THE INITIATIVE’S TERMS.
AS A RESULT, Russia declined to extend the implementation of the initiative.
APPARENTLY, Russia choose not to file any legal claim for breaking the initiative but decided to serve a warrant.
Here is a link to an EYE-OPENING article from POLITICO about the potential relevance of the Ukrainian grain export - a month after the initiative was signed: