(United Nations) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called on Russia to free Ukrainian grain exports, and on the West to open access for Russian fertilizers to world markets, in order to be able to fight effectively against the global food crisis.
Posted at 4:00 p.m.
“Russia must allow the safe and secure export of grain stored in Ukrainian ports,” he told a ministerial meeting hosted by the United States in New York.
“Alternative transport routes” to the maritime exit of these cereals, in particular filling silos in Odessa, “can be explored – even if we know that this will not be enough to solve the problem”, he added.
At the same time, “Russian food and fertilizers must have full and unrestricted access to world markets”, demanded the UN chief.
These fertilizers are not subject to the Western sanctions decided against Moscow after the February 24 invasion of Ukraine, but Russia has decided to stop their export. Their purchase by foreign countries may also be blocked by the measures taken against the Russian financial system, according to diplomats.
Antonio Guterres has been negotiating on these two subjects for several weeks with Russia, Ukraine, the United States, the European Union and Turkey, which can help with mine clearance near Ukrainian ports and guarantee the movement of ships.
“I’m hopeful, but there’s still a long way to go. The complex security, economic and financial implications require goodwill from all parties,” he said, declining to say more so as not to jeopardize the chances of a deal.
“Grain War”
According to him, “there is no effective solution to the food crisis without reintegrating into world markets, despite the war, the food production of Ukraine, as well as the food and fertilizers produced by Russia and Belarus. “.
Opening the meeting, the head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, denouncing once again the Russian invasion of Ukraine, specified that “22 million tons” of grain were in silos in Ukraine, just waiting to be exported.
The United States has decided to release “an additional $215 million” for the fight against food insecurity, he said.
Photo DANIEL MIHAILESCU, Agence France-Presse
Opening the meeting, the head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, denouncing once again the Russian invasion of Ukraine, specified that “22 million tons” of grain were in silos in Ukraine, just waiting to be exported.
Warning of the “specter of global food shortages in the coming months”, Antonio Guterres said the war in Ukraine had amplified and accelerated the factors contributing to the global food crisis: climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and inequalities. growing between rich and poor countries.
“If you have a heart, open these ports of Ukraine […] to feed the poor,” implored the head of the World Food Program (WFP), David Beasley, addressing Russia, which was not invited to attend the meeting.
Among other speakers, Senegal called for “freeing up grain stocks in the world” while Germany, the current G7 president, accused Russia of having “triggered a grain war”.
According to Antonio Guterres, “in just two years, the number of people suffering from severe food insecurity has doubled, from 135 million before the pandemic to 276 million today”.