Q. Should there be humanitarian exceptions to the sanctions?

[TiltsAreUnderrated]

Russia is a breadbasket. If its people starve, it won’t be because of sanctions on international trade.

They could bite when it comes to a select few other essentials, but I doubt it unless the sanctions become significantly wider and deeper. A 1998-style recession is forecast for a country significantly richer than it was in 1998.

Poorer countries with starving people obviously won’t impose sanctions on Russian grain. Outside of the West, plenty of countries are imposing minimal or no sanctions - this isn’t a North Korea- (or even Iran-)type situation.