Russia is once again using food as a weapon and undermining global food security through its attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea and Ukraine’s agricultural industry.
“What we have seen in recent days from the Russian side is that Russia is once again trying to turn the Black Sea into a zone of fear and disorder. It is deliberately targeting civilian shipping, freedom of navigation and the food security of millions of people across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America,” European Commission spokesperson for foreign affairs Anouar El Anouni said at a briefing in Brussels on Thursday.
According to him, “while Moscow claims that it is acting on behalf of countries that depend on food imports, Russia’s systematic attacks on Ukraine’s agricultural industry, ports, grain terminals and cargo vessels actually show a very different reality.”
“Since the beginning of its war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia has sought to weaponize food and undermine global food security by threatening the Black Sea, which is a key export route,” El Anouni said.
Olof Gill, the European Commission’s deputy chief spokesperson for trade, said that from a trade perspective, the Commission, on behalf of the European Union, has taken extensive measures since the beginning of Russia’s aggression not only to support Ukraine’s economy and defense capabilities, but also to enable Ukrainian exporters to continue operating.
“This includes agri-food exporters, which represent an important segment of the Ukrainian economy. You will remember that on previous occasions, when Black Sea routes came under pressure because of Russian aggression, Europe provided very substantial assistance in developing and improving overland corridors for Ukrainian exports so that they could continue exporting and generate vital commercial revenues for their economy,” he said.
