Russia's Grain Deal Exit Sparks Global Concerns over Hunger and Food Prices

Russia has suspended its participation in a grain deal that allowed Ukraine to ship grain through the Black Sea to countries struggling with hunger, citing a failure to meet its demands for a parallel agreement easing rules for its own food and fertilizer exports. The move deals a blow to global food security and comes after an explosion damaged Russia's bridge to Crimea, which Moscow blamed on Ukrainian sea drones. The United Nations and Turkey brokered the deal last year, benefiting poor countries by lowering food prices, but Russia has complained about the lack of grain reaching these nations. Ukraine has expressed readiness to continue grain exports without Russia's participation.