Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that there was no catastrophe after the collapse of the grain deal, as the cost of grain on world markets has been steadily declining. She noted that only a small amount of the cargo from the initiative was sent to countries in need, contrary to its humanitarian purpose. Despite predictions of rising food prices and famine threats by Western politicians and the UN Secretariat, the cost of grain on world markets has decreased by 25-40% since March 2022, and there has been no global food shortage.