The Russian blockade of Ukrainian grain exports to the world market is putting the lives of at least 250 million people in developing countries at risk.
President of the European Council, Charles Michel, made this statement during a press conference in New Delhi ahead of the G20 summit.
“Right now, Russia continues to attack the sovereign state of Ukraine, killing people and destroying its cities. Therefore, the EU will continue to strongly support Ukraine and exert increasing pressure on Russia. The Kremlin’s war is affecting lives far beyond Ukraine, including South Asia. Over 250 million people are facing acute food insecurity,” Michel said.
He noted that the Kremlin, by deliberately attacking Ukrainian ports, is depriving millions of people worldwide of the food they desperately need.
“This is an overtly scandalous situation where, after destroying the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia is blocking and attacking Ukrainian seaports. This must stop, ships must have free access to the Black Sea and, at the initiative of Antonio Guterres and the UN, deliver 32 million tons of Ukrainian grain to the market, especially to developing countries. In this context, the Kremlin’s proposal to provide 1 million tons of grain to Africa is absolutely cynical,” emphasized the President of the European Council.
He reminded that the EU is making efforts to provide alternative export routes for Ukrainian food. According to Michel, through “corridors of solidarity” organized by the EU across Ukraine’s land borders, 41 million tons of Ukrainian grain have been successfully exported so far.