Blinken: Russia Using Food as a Weapon in Ukraine

The U.S. Secretary of State has accused Russia of using food as a weapon against millions of Ukrainians and people in other countries around the world by holding grain reserves hostage. Russia denies the accusation.

Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, said on Thursday, May 19 in remarks to the United Nations Security Council: “It appears that the Russian government believes that by using food as a weapon, it can accomplish what its military invasion of Ukraine has failed to do; that is, to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people.”

According to Reuters, he called on the Russian government to end its blockade of Ukrainian ports.

Blinken emphasized: “The decision to use food as a weapon rests solely and entirely with Russia.”

Russia’s Response: “We Are Not Fools”

In response, a senior Russian government official rejected the accusation, saying that officials in the country “are not fools” and that Russia will not export food to other countries while facing extensive international sanctions.

Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian President, wrote on the social media platform Telegram that Russians have the expertise to produce the food supplies the world needs under appropriate conditions.

The Deputy Chair of Russia’s Security Council added: “Everything seems illogical. On one hand, insane sanctions are imposed, and on the other hand, there is a demand for food supplies.”

Medvedev also wrote: “Things don’t work that way. We are not fools.”

Medvedev added that agricultural production requires skilled individuals in agriculture as well as proper equipment and fertilizers.

The former Russian President stressed: “We have every opportunity to ensure that there is food in other countries so that there is no crisis. Just don’t prevent us from working.”

In the same regard, Vasily Nebenzia, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, also called the accusations that held Russia responsible for the global food crisis “completely false” and rejected them.

Russia and Ukraine’s Importance in Global Grain Supply

Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine has caused prices of grains, cooking oil, energy, and fertilizers to increase sharply. Ukraine and Russia are among the world’s largest wheat exporters and play a significant role in global food security, with these two countries supplying nearly one-third of the world’s wheat reserves.

Ukraine is also a major exporter of corn, barley, sunflower oil, and canola oil. Russia and Belarus, which is assisting Moscow in its war against Ukraine, account for over 40 percent of global potash exports.

Potash fertilizer is used in the production of wheat, rice, grapes, and grains, and the food security of millions of people, particularly in poor countries or those lacking sufficient industry and agricultural products, depends on potash.

Since Russia blockaded Ukrainian ports, grain exports through the Black Sea have been impossible. Kremlin officials have stated that opening Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea for grain exports is conditional on lifting some of the West’s sanctions against Moscow.

Source: DW