Finland censures Russia´s decision to terminate Black Sea Grain Initiative

Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen on Monday strongly condemned Russia`s decision to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Valtonen in a twitter post also said that decision will further exacerbate global food insecurity.

“We strongly condemn Russia`s decision to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Ukraine´s grain is urgently needed on the global market. Russia’s decision will further exacerbate global food insecurity and affect those already most in need,” the Foreign Minister wrote in a twitter post late Monday night.

Earlier on the day, Moscow suspended its participation in the Black Sea grain export deal, reported Xinhua, quoting Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

"Unfortunately, the part of these Black Sea agreements that concerns Russia has not been implemented so far, so its effect is terminated," local media reported citing Peskov.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday also said he regretted Russia's decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

"I deeply regret the decision by the Russian Federation to terminate the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, including the withdrawal of Russian security guarantees for navigation in the northwestern part of the Black Sea," Guterres said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country hopes to continue the Black Sea grain deal after Russia's withdrawal, Zelensky's spokesman Sergii Nykyforov said on Facebook, reported Xinhua.

"Even without the Russian Federation, everything must be done so that we can use this Black Sea corridor," Zelensky was cited as saying.