China Emerges as Ukraine's Leading Grain Importer, Rescuing the Black Sea Agreement

China, the top importer of Ukrainian grain, is being looked to by the United States and its Western allies to help resolve the fallout from Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The agreement, which eased Russia's naval blockade in the Black Sea and established a maritime humanitarian corridor, saw China receive the lion's share of Ukrainian agricultural products. With the collapse of the deal, China faces extreme pressure in terms of food price inflation, potentially impacting global food security. China has called for the immediate resumption of Ukrainian agriculture exports and Russian fertilizer products, while the U.S. Secretary of State has criticized Russia's actions and vowed to work with allies to address the mounting food crisis.