Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has condemned the termination of the grain agreement.

"I strongly condemn Russia's cynical move to end the Black Sea grain initiative, despite the efforts of the UN and Türkiye," Ursula von der Leyen said on Twitter.

Von der Leyen said the European Union is working to ensure food security for the world's vulnerable people.

"EU Solidarity Lanes will continue bringing agrifood products out of Ukraine and to global markets," she stressed.

I strongly condemn Russia’s cynical move to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative, despite UN & Türkiye’s efforts.

EU is working to ensure food security for the world’s vulnerable. #EUSolidarityLanes will continue bringing agrifood products out of Ukraine & to global…

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 17, 2023

It was reported that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced the suspension of the grain agreement on 17 July.

However, the President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said that he believes the Russian president actually wants the so-called grain deal to be extended and will talk to him about it. 

According to media reports, the EU had considered making concessions to a Russian bank for the sake of the grain deal, specifically by setting up a subsidiary of the sanctioned Russian Rosselkhozbank (Agricultural Bank) to restore its connection with SWIFT.