Washington DC, 25 May 2023 (TDI): The United States (US) Department of State has expressed grave concern over “Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine and the nation’s devastating impact on global food security.”
The Department warned of the devastating consequences of Russia’s blockading Ukrainian trade routes through the Black Sea, mining Ukrainian agricultural fields, burning crops, and destroying Ukrainian food storage supplies.
The US Department of State also noted that the Kremlin was profiting from the crisis it created. “Russia is reaping record profits from exporting agricultural products, largely a result of the elevated global commodity prices caused by the war Russia started,” stated the US Department.
The US Department of State additionally censured the Kremlin’s “war of disinformation” regarding agricultural trade from Ukraine, claiming that President Putin had spread lies about the geography of shipment distributions under the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI).
The Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) was created to alleviate the Kremlin-exacerbated global food crisis by allowing “safe navigation for exporting grain and related foodstuffs and fertilizers” from several Ukrainian ports. The US Department of State indicates that the BSGI has been vital in providing humanitarian food assistance to the Horn of Africa, Yemen, and Afghanistan.
In response to the crisis, the US demanded that the Kremlin cease its “illegal war” in Ukraine to allow the return to normal agricultural production and trade and an immediate and significant improvement in global food security. The Department also encouraged Russia to continue to participate in the BSGI, cease its disinformation and propaganda campaigns, and cease its attempts to weaponize hunger.
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The US Department of State concluded by noting the US longstanding commitment to reducing hunger around the world and mitigating the harmful impacts of Russia’s war on global food security.
The Department asserted the US support for the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) to help Africa achieve food security and the US traditional top donor status to the World Food Programme (WFP).
“Russia must stop its unconscionable, callous actions causing grievous harm to the people of Ukraine and to vulnerable populations around the world,” the State Department further added.
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