In the cold war over yogurt, America blinked.

The yogurt maker Chobani conceded defeat on Thursday in its standoff with the Russian government, which has refused to allow a shipment of the Greek yogurt intended for the United States Olympic team at the Winter Games in Sochi to enter the country.

No amount of dairy diplomacy could break the impasse. Chobani said it would donate the yogurt, which has been held in refrigerated storage near Newark Liberty International Airport, to New York and New Jersey food banks.

“We tried our best,” said Hamdi Ulukaya, the founder and chief executive of Chobani, who said he was disappointed that the Russian government had not been more accommodating.

“Nobody should fight over a beautiful cup of yogurt,” Mr. Ulukaya said. “If anything, it brings culture to everybody.”