UN warns after end of Black Sea grain deal

By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The spike in grain prices since Russia pulled out of a deal allowing the safe export of grain from Ukraine across the Black Sea "potentially threatens famine and worse for millions of people," the United Nations aid chief told the Security Council on Friday. Russia pulled out of the Black Sea grain deal on Monday, saying demands to improve its own food and fertilizer exports had not been met and complaining that Ukrainian grain had not reached poor countries in sufficient volumes. Chicago U.S. wheat futures are up more than 6% this week and had their biggest daily gain on Wednesday since Russia invaded Ukraine, but pared some of those gains on Friday in part on hopes that Russia can resume talks on the deal. “Higher prices will be felt most acutely by families in developing countries,” Martin Griffiths told the 15-member Council, adding that around 362 million people in 69 countries are currently in need of humanitarian aid. “Some ...