Washington, D.C.- House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) along with Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-ID) issued the following statement on Russia’s refusal to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which expires this Monday, July 17.
“We condemn Russia’s refusal to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which expires this Monday. This initiative has already facilitated over 950 safe voyages, transporting over 30 million tons of grain, fertilizer, and food items from Ukrainian ports to more than 40 countries. Russian intransigence puts this success at risk and exposes Moscow’s willingness to use food as a weapon of war, leading to increases in the risk of famine, human suffering, and global food prices."