The Russian government on Monday suspended an agreement with Ukraine that allowed for the safe passage of food grains through the Black Sea, a move that is likely to threaten global food security and raise prices.

Russia blames Western sanctions for blocking exports of its own grain and fertilizer, which it claims are also important to global food security.

While the West has not imposed sanctions on Russian grain and fertilizer exports, Moscow claims it is heavily hampered by sanctions on transport, shipping, finance and insurance, among others.

The suspension of the deal sent wheat prices up about 3 percent in Chicago trading to $6.81 a bushel. Analysts expect little more than a temporary spike in food staple prices because places like Russia and Brazil have increased wheat and corn exports, but global food insecurity is on the rise.

And the EU condemned Russia’s suspension of the Grains Agreement with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying “I strongly condemn Russia’s cynical move to end the Black Sea Grains Initiative, despite the efforts of the UN and Turkey” and notes that “the EU is working to ensure food security for the world’s vulnerable. EU solidarity lanes will continue to bring agri-food products from Ukraine to global markets.”

And the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, referred to the risk of a food crisis and stressed that “the Black Sea Grains Initiative has benefited millions around the world. I regret today’s announcement from Russia. This will jeopardize food security and access of populations around the world to grain and fertilizer supplies. I support the efforts of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, to pursue its expansion.”

The agreement allowed Ukraine to export grain from Black Sea ports and sail safely through the waterway to Turkey’s Bosphorus.

It proved vital to stabilize world food prices and to relieve developing countries that rely on Ukrainian exports. The impact of the war on global food markets was immediate and extremely painful, especially since Ukraine is a major grain supplier to the World Food Program (WFP).

According to the European Commission, Ukraine accounts for 10% of the world wheat market, 15% of the maize market and 13% of the barley market. It is also a major global player in the sunflower oil market.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a UN body, warned at the time that up to 47 million people could be pushed into “acute food insecurity” because of the war.

There are alternative routes for Ukrainian grain and oilseed exports by rail through Eastern Europe, but they cannot easily meet the volume that Ukraine wants to export.