Borrell reminded: Russia not only blocks food exports, but also steals Ukrainian grain

By shelling Ukraine’s port infrastructure and destroying grain terminals, Russia is deliberately trying to condemn the world’s most vulnerable countries to starvation, and this should be met with a strong response from the international community. This was stated by EU High Representative Josep Borrell at a press conference following the EU Council of Ministers meeting.

“As you know, Russia has withdrawn from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and the world is once again facing an artificially created food security problem. Putin is using hunger as a weapon even against people in those countries that still hesitate to condemn the criminal bloodshed he has unleashed in Ukraine,” Borrell said.

He emphasized that it is Russia that is blockading and shelling Ukrainian seaports and obstructing freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, and now threatening to consider all ships in the region as “military”.

“Russia is illegally blocking the export of Ukrainian grain. It is destroying Ukrainian fields and stealing Ukrainian agricultural products. Contrary to its own statements, Russia is making a good profit from grain exports and will benefit even more now that prices are going to rise again after it killed the (Black Sea Grain – ed.) agreement and destroyed warehouses in Ukrainian ports. We are convinced that the international community must respond decisively to this deliberate attempt by Putin to starve the world’s population in order to get more money or to continue his criminal war,” the EU High Representative emphasized.

Josep Borrell also said that today the EU foreign ministers reaffirmed to Dmytro Kuleba their strong support for our country in its legitimate defense against the Russian aggressor, which continues to commit atrocities against civilians and, by attacking ports, threatens the most vulnerable people around the world with starvation.

As reported, the EU Foreign Ministers’ Council took place in Brussels, and one of the key issues was the situation in Ukraine and assistance to Kyiv. Dmytro Kuleba took part in the meeting via teleconference.

Tags: Ukraine, Russia, EU