The Biden White House urged Russia on Monday to reverse its decision to exit the Black Sea Grain Initiative amid the country's invasion of Ukraine.

The deal was brokered in 2022 in an effort to stabilize global food prices that had skyrocketed in response to the war. The Black Sea region produces nearly all the grain sold in Europe and Africa.

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"Russia's decision to suspend participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative will worsen food insecurity and harm millions of vulnerable people around the world," acting National Security Council spokesperson Adam Hodge said in a statement Monday morning. "More than half of the 32 million metric tons of grain and foodstuffs shipped through the initiative has gone to developing countries, including some of the most food insecure regions of the globe.

"Every shipment under the initiative has contributed to reducing hardship in the world's poorest countries, since bringing grain to world markets lowers food prices for all," Hodge continued, adding that Moscow's decision is already resulting in another spike in global food prices. "We urge the government of Russia to immediately reverse its decision."

The Black Sea deal expired Monday morning, one year after being brokered by Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the United Nations in July of last year. Russia's Foreign Ministry gave notice to Turkey, Ukraine, and other countries that it would no longer honor safety guarantees for ships carrying grain in the region.

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Moscow claimed that the other countries in the initiative had not made good on promises to assist Russia with its food and fertilizer exports.

"Under these conditions of outright sabotage in the implementation of the Istanbul agreements, the continuation of the 'Black Sea initiative,' which did not justify its humanitarian purpose, becomes meaningless," the Kremlin said in a statement.