Russia and Ukraine take food as a “hostage”, and now the world looks like a “food struggle” If military power is the first weapon and energy supply is the second weapon, food supply is the third weapon (1/5) | JBpress

If military power is the first weapon and energy supply is the second weapon, food supply is the third weapon.

A shopkeeper selling flour at the market in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, on May 26, this year. Wheat exports from Russia and Ukraine stagnated due to the blockade of the Black Sea, and wheat prices rose 45% across Africa (Photo: AP / Aflo).

(Writer / Journalist: Yoichiro Aonuma)

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the world’s food crisis has been screaming.


Ukraine is the 5th largest wheat exporter in the world and Russia is the 1st largest wheat exporter, accounting for regarding 30% of the world’s wheat exports. Due to the fear of a shortage of wheat supply, international prices will rise as the invasion begins. Russia’s blockade of the Black Sea has made exports of wheat from Ukraine and corn, which is also the fourth largest in the world, stagnant, making it even more serious.

The United Nations released a report on the 8th. “1.6 billion people in 94 countries have been affected, including rising grain prices,” Guterres said, expressing strong concern that “it might create an unprecedented wave of hunger and poverty.”

Putin and Zelensky have begun to try “breaking the war situation with food as hostages”

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who met with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the same day in Turkey, said, “We are ready to safely navigate export vessels,” but “Ukraine does not remove mines.” Claims to be the cause. Meanwhile, Putin is calling for the lifting of sanctions in exchange for the resumption of exports.


Ukraine’s President Zelensky delivered an online speech at the Asian Security Council (Shangri-La) on the 11th, arguing that “Russia and any country that impairs freedom of navigation should be stopped. Sanctions are needed.” .. He called for increased sanctions on Russia, saying that “food shortages would cause political turmoil” and warned of the food crisis and the consequent overthrow of governments in Asian and African countries.

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