EXPLAINING THE PARTICIPATION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN THE BLACK SEA GRAIN INITIATIVE. A CRITICAL ASSESEMNT OF PROMINENT RATIONALS ATTRIBUTED TO THIS DECISION
EXPLAINING THE PARTICIPATION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN THE BLACK SEA GRAIN INITIATIVE. A CRITICAL ASSESEMNT OF PROMINENT RATIONALS ATTRIBUTED TO THIS DECISION

Author(s): Alexandru LUCINESCU
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Economy
Published by: Carol I National Defence University Publishing House
Keywords: Black Sea Grain Initiative; aggression against Ukraine; Russian Federation; United Nations; sanctions; agricultural commodities; fertilizers.
Summary/Abstract: The aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine included the blockade of Ukrainian ports from the Black Sea which triggered a severe worldwide shortage of agricultural commodities. Under the auspices of the United Nations and with support from Türkiye it was negotiated an agreement, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, concluded in July 2022 between Türkiye, Ukraine and the Russian Federation and which made possible for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products to be resumed via the Black Sea. Since July 2022, the agreement was renewed twice and currently it is in force. The Black Sea Grain Initiative drew the attention of experts who put forward various explanations for the participation of the Russian Federation in the agreement, but their opinions differ in terms of both reasons and their degree of relevancy without yet getting them involved in a debate on this issue. The export of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers without any impediment resulting from sanctions imposed on it following aggression against Ukraine and the maintaining of close relations with developing states, mostly from Northern Africa are commonly indicated as rationales behind this decision. This paper contributes to stimulate debate by critically examining these two explanations in terms of their relative importance for the involvement of the Russian Federation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative and by providing arguments in support of the prevalence of the latter one. The paper further encourages debate among experts as a result of broadening the second explanation by including under its scope the preoccupation of the Russian Federation for a close cooperation with China and Türkiye.

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