2023-08-03 17:51:20
Brussels 08/03/2023 Act. at 19:47 CEST
The High Representative for Foreign Policy of the EU has censured Russia’s position and has warned that wheat and corn are already becoming more expensive
The High Representative for Foreign Policy of the European Union (EU), Josep Borrell, asked this Thursday support to EU countries to urge Moscow to resume the initiative for the export of grain of Ukraine and to cease its attacks on that country’s agricultural infrastructure.
“If the international community speaks with a clear and unified voice, Russia might reconsider and resume its participation. in this vital initiative,” Borrell said regarding the agreement to export grain from Ukraine through the Black Sea, in a letter addressed to the Foreign Ministers of the Twenty-seven to which EFE had access.
The head of European diplomacy requested in particular the “support” of the countries “to urge Russia to return to negotiations and to refrain from targeting Ukraine’s agricultural infrastructure”.
Russia and Ukraine reached an agreement a year ago with the mediation of the UN and Turkey for the export of grain from Ukraine through the Black Sea.
The agreement was extended last March and May but Russia announced on July 17 that it would not renew ita decision that, indicates the same letter, “further exacerbates the global food crisisputting hundreds of millions of vulnerable people around the world at risk.”
Borrell denounces in the letter that, apart from withdrawing from the initiative, Moscow has “been destroying Ukraine’s grain storage facilities and the port infrastructure with daily targeted attacks for more than a week, not only on the Black Sea, but also on the Danube.”
The attacks, he said, are having “negative effects” by raising the cost of living especially for people in import-dependent countries. “This is completely unacceptable and must be strongly condemned by the international community.“, he indicated.
Borrell warned that there is already an increase in the price of wheat and cornwarning that increased food price volatility is likely to persist in the future.
According to the head of European diplomacy, the main beneficiary of the blockade of the initiative is Russia and its agricultural sector.
Besides, criticized Moscow for reaching out to “vulnerable countries with bilateral offers of grain shipments at reduced pricespretending to solve a problem that she herself created.” “It’s a cynical policy deliberately using food as a weapon to create new dependencies by exacerbating economic weaknesses and global food insecurity,” Borrell said.
The person in charge of European diplomacy points out in the letter that the EU expects Russia to “reconsider its decision” and that in the meantime it is “fully committed to finding solutions.”
In that context, he indicated that the Twenty-seven will continue to support the efforts of the UN and Turkey to resume the Black Sea grain initiative and that “solidarity lanes” will continue to be strengthened as alternative routes for Ukraine’s agricultural exports.
Besides, the EU plans to increase financial support to countries and people most in need with 18,000 million euros in order to guarantee food security until 2024, focusing on the most vulnerable regions.
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