The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stressed on Tuesday that Moscow is the “only” cause of the global food crisis unleashed with the invasion of Ukraine
Ursula von der Leyen (REUTERS/Johanna Geron)
The President of the European Commission ,Ursula von der Leyen stressed on Tuesday that Russia is the “only” cause of the global food crisis unleashed with the invasion of Ukraine, until recently the world’s “granary”, and accused Moscow of ” misinform” by blaming the Twenty-seven for the origin of the crisis.
Accusing the EU of causing food insecurity is “Total misinformation on the part of Russia. The only reason we have a food crisis is because of the brutal and unjustified war against Ukraine”, said the EC president at a press conference at the end of the two-day European summit held in Brussels. p>
Von der Leyen insisted that Moscow is the only cause of the crisis, since in addition to “blocking exports, it bombs silos and mines the fields where the crops could be grown. crops.”
He also recalled that The Twenty-seven have agreed to exclude agri-food products from sanctions against Moscow, including fertilizers that many third countries are buying from Russia.
The food crisis, which threatens to cause famines in vulnerable countries, especially in Africa, was one of the issues discussed by the heads of state or government of the EU at the summit.
The president of the African Union (AU), the Senegalese Macky Sall, who detailed the most urgent needs of the African countries and assured that the AU will work with the Twenty-seven to find solutions to the crisis.
Although the European Council< b> demanded that Russia lift the blockade of Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea and allow food exports, particularly from Odessa, the Twenty-seven are aware of the difficulty of this objective, on which the UN is also working .
Ukraine was before one of the world’s leading grain exporters after the war (REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko)
Therefore,They focus above all for the moment on developing the “solidarity routes” proposed by Brussels to transport grain by road and rail.
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, told a press conference that the EU “will spare no effort to free Ukraine’s exports by land and explore alternative sea routes.”
Russia “is using food as a weapon of war” by destroying crops, blocking tons of grain and risking the possibility of global faminel, Michel said.
“We fully support the UN’s efforts to open maritime corridors in the Black Sea, it would be the best option, but we don’t know if it will be possible. That is why we work (…) on the solidarity routes to facilitate alternative routes and we talk about different possibilities”, he added.
The Italian Prime Minister, Mario Draghi said at the end of the meeting that the EU seeks to “organize transport by rail”, something that “is easier than freeing the ports”, although the possibilities of transporting grain are “much less important” .
For his part, during the meeting the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Kiril Petkov, offered the Black Sea port of Varna as an option to help Ukraine export its grain.
Another option would be passing through Belarus to export Ukrainian exportsalthough it does not seem to be one of the preferred alternatives.
The President of the European Council recalled that the EU has also agreed to sanctions against Belarus and that it maintains pressure on this country because “it helps Russia a lot”.
The European summit two-day meeting held in Brussels (REUTERS/Johanna Geron)
Von der Leyen pointed out, on the other hand, the need to avoid global restrictions on agricultural trade and to develop strategies to improve production in regions that more may be affected by food insecurity, particularly in Africa.
Before the war, Ukraine was one of the world’s leading grain exporters and its goods were essential to the food security of areas such as the Middle East and North Africa.
Most of Ukraine’s food goods used to move from the former Soviet republic to the rest of the world through Black Sea ports, but Russia has blocked them.
“The European Council asks Russia to end its attacks on transport infrastructure in Ukraine, lift the blockade of Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea and allow food exports, in particular from Odessa”, declare the leaders in the conclusions adopted on the second day of the summit held today in Brussels.
The leaders “strongly condemn the destruction and illegal appropriation by Russia of agricultural production in Ukraine” < /b>and they add that the “Russian war of aggression against Ukraine” is having “a direct impact on global food security and affordability”.
Macron proposed to Putin a resolution on the UN to lift the blockade of Odessa
Emmanuel Macron (REUTERS/Johanna Geron)
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday that he has proposed to his counterpart Vladimir Putin to vote for a resolution at the UN to lift the Russian blockade of the port of Odessa and make it possible to export locked Ukrainian grain there.
“In the discussion we had with [the German head of government] Olaf Scholz last Saturday, I proposed to President Putin that we take the initiative of a resolution in the United Nations to give a very clear framework to this operation”, he said after a European summit in Brussels.
Currently Russia is imposing a blockade on Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, in particular Odessa, and Some 20 million tons of grain stored in silos throughout the country are blocked.
“The decision depends on an agreement from Russia and the guarantees it offers: before the demining [of the port of Odessa, it will be necessary] security guarantees provided to Ukrainians to prevent them from being attacked”, Macron pointed out.
The Ukrainian government needs “guarantees legitimate security concerns, and it is the United Nations framework that will allow us to do so,” he added.
Macron highlighted the “importance Turkey’s role, given its responsibility in the Black Sea” and its contacts with Moscow.
(With information from EFE and AFP)