The European Union has accused Russia of using both hunger and food «as weapons» in the war after Moscow decided to break the pact allowing grain exports from Ukraine which, according to the EU, has made a «significant difference» in alleviating the global food crisis» for which Russia is «entirely» responsible.
«The European Union condemns Russia’s suspension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and urges Russia to reverse its decision and immediately resume the implementation of the UN Black Sea Grain Initiative,» EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell explained in a statement.
Borrell pointed out that «Russia is solely responsible for the global food security crisis», while singling out Moscow for obstructing a pact that has made «a significant difference», as it has allowed the export of cereals in a context of «global food crisis», to the countries most in need, including the Horn of Africa.
«The Black Sea Grains Initiative has brought 9,521,645 tons of grains and food products to the world market,» it has said, adding that these «deliberate» actions by Moscow, «including destroying stocks, disrupting production and imposing quota restrictions on its own food and fertilizer exports, have exacerbated the global food security crisis.»
The head of European diplomacy also said he «strongly» supported UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ call for the extension of the initiative beyond its current period, which ends in November.
Borrell already asked the Russian government on Sunday to reverse this decision to allow again the export of grain from Ukrainian ports during the war, a pact that Moscow broke after denouncing a «terrorist attack» by Kiev in the Crimean port of Sevastopol against ships participating in this initiative.
