Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to provoke a world hunger in the next 2-3 years in order to artificially create a global migration crisis. Despite the fact that the Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022, was automatically extended for another 120 days, Russia continues to violate the agreements and makes attempts to withdraw from it.
A few days ago, Moscow confirmed its readiness to extend the grain deal for only 60 days, accusing the West of unwillingness to lift restrictions on Russian agricultural products and fertilizers. Although food exports from Russia were not directly affected by the restrictive measures, Russian authorities said that secondary sanctions on logistics and insurance made it more difficult.
Today, the Grain Initiative still makes it possible to facilitate safe shipping for the export of grain, and related food products and fertilizers from certain Ukrainian seaports to countries in Africa and Asia. At the same time, Russia continues shelling of Ukrainian croplands, deliberately destroying agricultural and transport infrastructure. Therefore, Ukraine this year was no longer able to sow about 7 million hectares of land.
With its missile attacks on Ukraine, Russia creates risks for all food suppliers, and also frightens investors, international insurance companies, thus significantly reducing the export opportunities for agricultural products.
So the Russian authorities are once again lying about the fact that sanctions, and not its war in Ukraine, aggravated the global food crisis.
Because of such actions of the Kremlin, a real threat of famine looms over the countries of Africa and the Middle East. According to the UN, 35 million people from 37 countries are on the verge of starvation, and 339 million people on the planet need humanitarian assistance. Other estimates put more than 120 million people in Africa alone in severe food insecurity.
Russia must immediately stop blackmailing the world with hunger, and allow Ukrainian food to be exported freely.