Background of the negotiation
The black sea grain initiative was a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which created an estimation of future prices of agricultural commodities after the invasion. The black sea grain initiative was formed to change the perception of the agricultural commodity traders in the future market prices –the Ukraine war. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which began in February 2022, resulted in humanitarian consequences leading to economic costs resulting in a rise in the prices of commodities, which was uncertain from the Russian and Ukraine wars. One of the repercussions of the conflict between the two countries was that it led to disruption in trade and prices, particularly agriculture commodities in the markets. The two countries are among the countries recorded with high agricultural producers, and the prices of wheat and corn rose by 30% after the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Rashevska, 2023).
There were projections by the World Trade Organization forecasted that future prices could rise by 85%. To ensure the stability of the prices, the transportation of agricultural commodities had to be established by the European Union in May 2022. This later led to the (Kakabadze, 2023). Most of the countries that were estimated to have been affected by the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine were Africa, Asia and parts of Latin America, which were majorly affected by the rise in prices of the grain products that are produced by Ukraine and Russia.
Parties to the negotiation
Black Sea Grain Initiative was a comprehensive agreement that was formed between the United Nations and Turkey to help in shipments of agricultural produce through the Black Sea ports. Due to this conflict, there was recorded over 45 million people were estimated to be suffering from hunger around the world as a result of the rise in prices of foodstuff and commodities, which was from the impact of the 2022 Russian invasion in Ukraine (Kakabadze, 2023).
In addition, the Black Sea grain initiative was formed to lead the safe transportation of foodstuffs and grain from the Ukrainian ports, which was an agreement between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations which was as a result of the armed conflict of Russia in Ukraine. The onset of the invasion, which started in February 2022, resulted in a halt in most of the maritime operations and mainly the grain shipments that came from Ukraine, which was a major exporter of grains to the rest of the world. The rise in prices created a forecast that a lot of countries were facing a threat of famine given the rise in food prices (Kiforenko, 2023). Addressing these issues led to the negotiation of the United Nations, which was hosted in Turkey on negotiations on how grin products could be exported from the Ukrainian ports, whereby Turkey controls most of the maritime routes in the Black Sea.
Furthermore, the parties to the agreement took place in Istanbul, Turkey, which formed the major deal during the Russian invasion. Ukraine signed an agreement with Turkey and the United Nations to help bring down food prices. The signing of these documents ensured the safe transportation of grain and foodstuffs such as fertilizers by transversing through the Black Sea to Turkey.
Moreover, the negotiation between the parties by the United Nations created a lifesaving deal between Ukraine, Turkey and Russia to help in the resumption of the shipments of millions of tons of needed grains through the ports in international waters of the Black Sea. The negotiation and signing of the deal helped in the exportation of tons of needed grain of food across the Black Sea from the Ukrainian ports that were stuck in Ukraine. The Black Sea initiative between these countries helped in the delivery of food products across the back seat to the lower-income countries and helped in bringing down food prices.
Issues in the negotiation
Issues in the negotiation were brought about by Russia in the agricultural exports, which felt that most of the conditions of the agreement were not honoured by the West. Putin claimed that the Ukraine farmers were set to benefit more through grain exports rather than Russia, which created some of the issues brought about by the negotiation (Wegren, 2023). The onset of the invasion, which started in February 2022, resulted in a halt in most of the maritime operations and mainly the grain shipments that came from Ukraine, which was a major exporter of grains to the rest of the world. The rise in prices created a forecast that a lot of countries were facing a threat of famine, given the rise in food prices.
During the negotiation period, Russia continued to create attacks on Ukraine as there were mines planted in the Black Sea by the Russian warships. The black sea grain initiative was negotiated between the United Nations and Turkey, which allowed the mapping of routes to avoid mines in the delivery of food products and fertilizers across the black sea, where the Russian warships were located (Wegren, 2023). Issues during this period led to humanitarian consequences, leading to economic costs resulting in a rise in the prices of commodities, which was uncertain from the Russian and Ukrainian wars. One of the repercussions of the conflict between the two countries was that it led to disruption in trade and prices, particularly in agriculture commodities in the markets (Boffey et al., 2022). Most of the countries that were estimated to have been affected by the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine were Africa, Asia and parts of Latin America, which were majorly affected by the rise in prices of the grain products that are produced by Ukraine and Russia. In mid-year 2023, Russia claimed it would withdraw from the agreement, stating that if the demands were not met, Russia would not renew the deal in the agreement, leading to the expiry of the deal.
Final results of the negotiation
The parties to the agreement took place in Istanbul, Turkey, which formed the major deal during the Russian invasion. Ukraine signed an agreement with Turkey to help in bringing down food prices together with the United Nations (Pedrozo, 2023). The signing of these documents ensured the safe transportation of grain and foodstuffs such as fertilizers by transversing through the Black Sea to Turkey. The negotiation between the parties by the United Nations created a lifesaving deal between Ukraine, Turkey and Russia to help in the resumption of the shipments of millions of tons of needed grains through the ports in international waters of the Black Sea. The negotiation and signing of the deal helped in the exportation of tons of needed grain of food across the Black Sea from the Ukrainian ports that were stuck in Ukraine. The Black Sea initiative between these countries helped in the delivery of food products across the back seat to the lower-income countries and helped in bringing down food prices.
The final results of the negotiation in The Black Sea grain initiative led to the safe transportation of foodstuffs and grain from the Ukrainian ports, which was an agreement between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations, which was a result of the armed conflict of Russia into Ukraine. The rise in prices created a forecast that a lot of countries were facing a threat of famine, given the rise in food prices. Addressing these issues led to the negotiation of the United Nations, which was hosted in Turkey on negotiations on how grin products could be exported from the Ukrainian ports, whereby Turkey controls most of the maritime routes in the Black Sea.
Part B: Analysis
BATNA of the parties
The best alternative to a negotiated agreement was that Ukraine signed an agreement with Turkey and the United Nations, which entailed safe navigation of the exported grain and fertilizers through the black sea to Turkey (Taylor, 2019). The BATNA of the United Nations made another agreement which was made to facilitate unimpeded exports of Russian food commodities and fertilizers. Based on the negotiation of the parties, a joint coordination centre was formed in Istanbul to help monitor the ships through satellites and other means of communication to ensure the safe departure of the ships through the Black Sea. BATNA involved the parties, and the sailing ships to Ukraine were set to be insured by the United Kingdom, which said it would help achieve insurance costs for the companies involved in the trading ships sailing to Ukraine in carrying the grains and the fertilizers exported to the developing countries (Glauber, and Laborde, 2023).
Notably, the negotiation between the parties by the United Nations created a lifesaving deal between Ukraine, Turkey and Russia to help in the resumption of the shipments of millions of tons of needed grains through the ports in international waters of the Black Sea. The negotiation and signing of the deal helped in the exportation of tons of needed grain of food across the Black Sea from the Ukrainian ports that were stuck in Ukraine. The Black Sea initiative between these countries helped in the delivery of food products across the back seat to the lower-income countries and helped in bringing down food prices.
Integrative bargaining (class 3)
Integrative bargaining brings about collaboration and trust between the different parties through shared interests to help in mutual gains. The implementation of integrative bargaining helps create win-win solutions for the parties, hence allowing beneficial agreements between them (Dévényi, 2016). The parties to the agreement took place in Istanbul, Turkey, which formed the major deal during the Russian invasion. Ukraine signed an agreement with Turkey and the United Nations to help bring down food prices.
The signing of these documents ensured the safe transportation of grain and foodstuffs such as fertilizers by trans-versing through the Black Sea to Turkey (Poursina et al., 2023). The negotiation between the parties by the United Nations created a lifesaving deal between Ukraine, Turkey and Russia to help in the resumption of the shipments of millions of tons of needed grains through the ports in international waters of the Black Sea. The negotiation and signing of the deal helped in the exportation of tons of needed grain of food across the Black Sea from the Ukrainian ports that were stuck in Ukraine (Poursina et al., 2023). The Black Sea initiative between these countries helped in the delivery of food products across the back seat to the lower-income countries and helped in bringing down food prices.
Part C: Conclusion
Critical assessment of the negotiation
Since the onset of the negotiation, the agreement has subsequently been renewed and extended over the past months, leading to over 1000 voyages, which have successfully left the Ukraine part carrying over 30 tons of grain produce and food products to over 45 countries around the world. Since July 2023, however, there has been no renewal of the agreement by Russia, which claims that most of Russia’s demands have not been met.
Conclusively, The Black Sea grain initiative was formed to lead the safe transportation of foodstuffs and grain from the Ukrainian ports, which was an agreement between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations which was as a result of the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The onset of the invasion, which started in February 2022, resulted in a halt in most of the maritime operations and mainly the grain shipments that came from Ukraine, which was a major exporter of grains to the rest of the world. The rise in prices created a forecast that a lot of countries were facing a threat of famine, given the rise in food prices. Addressing these issues led to the negotiation of the United Nations, which was hosted in Turkey on negotiations on how grin products could be exported from the Ukrainian ports, whereby Turkey controls most of the maritime routes in the Black Sea. The negotiation between the parties by the United Nations created a lifesaving deal between Ukraine, Turkey and Russia to help in the resumption of the shipments of millions of tons of needed grains through the ports in international waters of the Black Sea.
Reference List
Poursina, D., Schaefer, K.A., Hilburn, S. and Johnson, T., 2023. Economic impacts of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Journal of Agricultural Economics.
Rashevska, K.Y., 2023. THE BLACK SEA GRAIN INITIATIVE: THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WTO ENGAGEMENT TO ENSURE HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE CONTEXT OF FOOD SECURITY. Publishing House “Baltija Publishing”.
Boffey, D., Michaelson, R., Roth, A. and Koshiw, I., 2022. Ukraine and Russia sign UN-backed deal to restart grain exports. The Guardian, 22.
Pedrozo, R.P., 2023. The Black Sea Grain Initiative: Russia’s Strategic Blunder or Diplomatic Coup?. International Law Studies, 100(1), p.12.
Glauber, J.W. and Laborde, D., 2023. Suspension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative: What has the deal achieved, and what happens now?. IFPRI book chapters, pp.108-111.
Kakabadze, M., 2023. The Black Sea Grain Initiative: analyzing the emerging, implementation and challenges.
Wegren, S.K., 2023. Russia Weaponizes Grain Trade Against Ukraine. RUSSIAN ANALYTICAL DIGEST, 27(304), p.2.
Kiforenko, O.V., 2023. Security in the Baltic-Black Sea region influencing Ukrainian agricultural products exports: the grain deal case. Publishing House “Baltija Publishing”.
Dévényi, M., 2016. The role of integrative strategies and tactics in HR negotiations. Strategic Management-International Journal of Strategic Management and Decision Support Systems in Strategic Management, 21(2).
Taylor, K., 2019. When BATNA Equals the Unthinkable: Business Mediations and Provocation. Ohio St. J. on Disp. Resol., 28, p.549.
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