BREAKING: Russia and Ukraine signed separate agreements with Turkey and the United Nations clearing the way for exporting millions of tons of desperately needed Ukrainian grain — as well as Russian grain and fertilizer.

✅Sergei Lavrov is embarking on a trip to Egypt as the first step of his African tour 

Food security, as Egypt sources 25% of its grain from Ukraine, the El Dabaa nuclear project, Suez Canal development and Arab League mediation efforts will top the agenda,

✅BREAKING: The United States signs off on an additional $270 million in military aid to Ukraine,

✅On the day that the US agrees to supply 4 more HIMARS systems to Ukraine, Russia claims that it destroyed 4 Ukrainian HIMARS. Classic Kremlin counter-programming.

✅The grain export deal between Russia and Ukraine could have far-reaching implications for food security

✅Ukraine can now export 20 million tons of its 2021 grain harvest and Zelensky estimates that $10 billion of Ukrainian grain is ready for sale,

✅Food price inflation in countries vulnerable to food insecurity has skyrocketed. This makes the Russia-Ukraine grain export deal even more significant: 

Sudan: 187%

Syria: 86%

Yemen: 60%

Ethiopia: 54%

✅Britain’s Mi6 believes that Russia will have an operational pause in Ukraine due to manpower shortages 

Rumours of this scenario have been circulating for weeks but Russia has relatively seamlessly transitioned from a Luhansk to Donetsk offensive,

South Africa is urging Africa to become self-sufficient in grain and fertilizer 

✅As Cyril Ramaphosa blamed Western sanctions on Russia for food insecurity, this narrative will resonate especially amongst anti-Western regimes and economically isolated African countries,

✅South Africa's call for grain and fertilizer self-sufficiency is likely to resonate at the African Union level 

✅Key African regional powers, such as Nigeria and Egypt, have been disproportionately impacted by soaring food prices,

Cote d'Ivoire's President Alassane Ouatarra told Zelensky that Africa should be priortized as grain shipments from Ukraine resume

✅The re-entry of Ukrainian grain will be especially beneficial for fragile states in Africa such as Libya,

✅Latin American regional organization Mercosur refused to let Zelensky address their summit 

Opposition from either Brazil, Argentina or both is the plausible cause of this decision.

✅Lithuania is stepping up military aid to Ukraine 

M13 and M577 armoured personnel carriers, as well as ammunition for reserve training are on their way. This will complement Lithuania’s efforts to be a training hub for the Ukrainian military.

✅Alexander Lukashenko has broken with Russia’s resistance to diplomacy by stating that the Ukraine war must end 

Belarus’s call for Ukraine to accept Russia’s demands makes this statement a non starter.

✅BREAKING: Hungary’s Fidesz Party announces that Hungary will purchase an additional 700 million cubic meters of natural gas from Russia.