Italy warns that “the world bread war has already begun”

• Italy, EuropaPress photo

The Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi di Maio, assured today that “the world bread war has already begun” due to the grain blockade in Ukraine, which prevents many vulnerable countries from having access to grain, and that implies “the risk of new conflicts breaking out in Africa”. 

“The world bread war is over. running and we must stop it. We risk political instability in Africa, the proliferation of terrorist organizations, coups:this can be caused by the grain crisis we are experiencing“, Di Maio said

Before the war, Ukraine was one of the world’s leading exporters of cereals and agricultural fertilizers, andits goods were essential for food securityfrom areas such as the Middle East and North Africa.

Russian President Vladimir Putin “must reach a peace agreement as soon as possible, which also includes a “I am talking about the grain, like a ceasefire agreement that allows us to evacuate women, civilians and children who have been under Russian bombs in eastern Ukraine for 100 days,” he added. ;. 

“There are 30 million tons of grain blocked in Ukrainian ports by Russian warships,” he said. Di Maio, who indicated that “what we are doing is working for Russia to unblock the export of wheat to Ukrainian ports, because right now we run the risk of new wars breaking out in Africa.”

The head of Italian diplomacy recalled that “we will hold a first dialogue session with the Mediterranean countries on food security, we will work with all partners together with Germany, Turkey, France and many others to reach the goal of unlocking the quantities of wheat that must leave the Ukraine. 

Italy offered to a few days ago to demine the ports of Ukraine and create “maritime corridors”” for the transport of the wheat and the prime minister, Mario Draghi, telephoned to Putin, to ask him to unblock the export of grain from Ukraine, also from the ports of the Black Sea and Sea of ​​Azov, such as Mariúpol, invaded by Russian troops. 

The president russian replied that if the West were to lift sanctions on Russia, his country could export grain. 

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), based in Rome , has warned of the repercussions that is having for the food security of the whole world the war between Ukraine and Russia, both colossi exporters of cereal. 

Organizing a Ministerial Dialogue with the Mediterranean countries for next June 8, in collaboration with the FAO, to understand the needs and outline intervention measures in the face of the serious repercussions of the war on food security, particularly in the Mediterranean and Africa.