Borrell: Russia blocks food exports, loots Ukrainian grain
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell stated this at a press conference following a meeting of the EU Council of Ministers, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"You know that Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Deal, and the world faces again a man-made problem of food security. Putin is using hunger as a weapon – even against people in countries that still hesitate to condemn his illegal bloodshed in Ukraine," Borrell said.
He emphasized that it is Russia that is blocking and shelling Ukrainian seaports and obstructing freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. Now it threatens to consider all ships in the region as "military".
"Russia illegally blocks exports of Ukrainian grain. It destroys Ukrainian fields and loots Ukrainian agricultural production. Contrary to what Russia is claiming, it is making good profits from exports of its grain and fertilisers, and will make even more profits now when the prices will rise again after Russia killed the [Black Sea Grain] Deal, and destroys the stockpiles in the Ukrainian harbours. We believe that the international community should respond decisively to this deliberate attempt by Putin to starve the world populations, in order to gain extra money or to fight this illegal war," the EU High Representative emphasized.
Josep Borrell also said that today the EU foreign ministers confirmed to Dmytro Kuleba their strong support for Ukraine 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, where one of the key issues was the situation in Ukraine and assistance to Kyiv. Dmytro Kuleba took part in the meeting via teleconference.
