2 hours ago
The Russian ambassador accused the President of the European Commission of spreading lies
The Russian ambassador left a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, after the President of the European Commission, Charles Michel, blamed Russia for the global food crisis.
Michel said Russia is using food supplies as a “hidden weapon” against developing countries, pushing people into poverty.
The Russian envoy to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, accused European Commissioner Michel of spreading lies.
And caused the war to freeze food exports from Ukrainian ports.
Ukraine is a major exporter of cooking oil and grains such as corn and wheat. Russia also exports large quantities of wheat and fertilizers.
The scarcity of these materials has led to a crazy rise in the prices of alternative products.
“Mr. Ambassador of Russia, let’s be frank, the Kremlin is using food supplies as a covert weapon against developing countries,” Michel said at the Security Council meeting in New York.
“The consequences of the Russian war are expanding across the world, and this has led to food prices going up, pushing people into poverty, and destabilizing many areas.”
“Russia is solely responsible for this food crisis.”
He added that he personally saw millions of tons of grain piled up in the port of Odessa, due to the naval blockade, imposed by Russia.
Michel also accused Russia of stealing grain and preventing the cultivation and harvesting of crops in Ukraine, due to its military operations there.
His comments prompted the Russian ambassador, Nebenzia, to leave the meeting. And Michel directed him, as he was about to leave, saying: “You can leave the hall now, perhaps you will find comfort in not hearing the truth.”
Nebenzia told Archyde.com he could not stay because of “the lies that Michel came to spread”.
In a separate meeting, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also said Russia was blocking Ukraine’s grain exports from the country. He accused Russian forces of destroying Ukrainian agricultural facilities.
He added in a virtual session with donors, NGOs and private sector institutions, saying: “Around 20 million tons of wheat are still stuck in warehouses near Odessa, and ships loaded with grain are frozen in Odessa port due to the Russian blockade.”
He also echoed Michel’s accusations that Russia was “plundering” Ukrainian wheat to sell itself.