The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, warned on Tuesday about the “obvious signs” of a world food crisis due to the war in Ukraine, caused by the Russian invasion, accusing Russia of blackmailing the retention of cereals.
“The signs of a growing food crisis are evident. We have to act urgently.”declared the leader of the community executive, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
At a time of armed confrontation in Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen denounced that “Russian artillery is deliberately shelling grain stores in Ukraine”, which is one of the most fertile countries in the world, and that it is also “blocking Ukrainian ships”. . full of wheat and sunflower seeds.”
kyiv warns that buying ‘stolen grain’ from Russia is complicit in crimes
“The consequences of these shameful acts are evident. World wheat prices are skyrocketing and it is fragile countries and vulnerable populations that are suffering the most. […] and, on top of that, Russia is now stockpiling its own food exports as a form of blackmail, withholding supplies to raise global prices, or trading wheat for political support.”
And criticized: “This is using hunger and grain to exert power.”
Noting that there are about 20 million tons of wheat held in Ukraine, with the usual export of five million tons of wheat per month, Von der Leyen defended the creation of “solidarity roads, linking the borders of Ukraine with the ports”. Brussels “financing different modes of transport so that Ukraine’s cereals can reach the most vulnerable countries in the world.”
“And we are working with the World Food Program so that stocks available and additional products can reach the most vulnerable countries at affordable prices, [sendo que] global cooperation is the antidote to Russian blackmail,” said the president of the European Commission.
Ursula von der Leyen also argued that “Ukraine must win this war and Putin’s aggression must be a strategic failure”.
The charge comes at a time of heated armed confrontation in Ukraine over the Russian invasion, geopolitical tensions that are affecting supply chains, sparking fears of breakdown of stocks and food crisis.
Both Ukraine and Russia are major suppliers to world markets, especially of grains and vegetable oils such as wheat, barley and corn, and kyiv is also responsible for more than 50% of world trade in sunflower oil and a major supplier of rations for the EU. .
According to the European Commission, there is no immediate threat to food security within the communitysince the EU is a major producer and net exporter of cereals.
Still, Brussels recognizes the immediate impact related to rising costs throughout the entire food supply chain, due to the disruption of trade flows to and from Ukraine and Russia, as well as the consequences on global food security. .
For the EU’s neighbors, North Africa and the Middle East, both availability and affordability are at risk for the staple food wheat, which is also the case in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
North Africa and the Middle East import more than 50% of their grain needs from Ukraine and Russia.
Source: Observadora
