Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine, which began in February, has turned into an attack on the whole world. As a result of Putin’s hostilities, energy and food prices in Europe have reached record highs. However, the grain embargo has had an even greater impact on poor countries, such as those in Africa, which are trying to recover from the socioeconomic consequences of COVID-19.
Russia blockaded Ukraine’s Black Sea ports from the start of the war until July, deliberately preventing the export of grain and other agricultural products. As a result of these malicious actions, 95% of Ukraine’s grain exports have been blocked.
Countries such as Ethiopia, Yemen, Djibouti, Somalia and Afghanistan have been most affected by the grain blockade. According to UN figures, around 20 million people in East Africa are starving and have been affected by the conflict.
220 million people may suffer
It is predicted that around 220 million more people worldwide will suffer food insecurity as the war continues. The deliberate disruption of global food supply lines by causing deprivation is yet another war crime by Russia, which should serve as an argument for continuing to pressure it with economic sanctions.
The grain situation was in crisis until mid-summer, and Russia was persuaded by its international partners to seek compromises on grain exports.
The first agreement on grain exports was signed in July and was due to expire on 19 November. Mediated by the UN and Turkey, an agreement between Russia and Ukraine was reached, albeit with difficulty.
The EU must continue its financial efforts to ensure food security on neighboring continents, but also to strategically communicate key Community messages.
The formats that can strengthen Europe’s position already exist. The EU has multilateral contacts with African Union countries and regular meetings with leaders.
The EU should also invite Ukrainian diplomats to meetings with African Union countries, where they can make a concrete case for why security guarantees from Russia are worthless.
Grain initiative has a positive outcome
The Black Sea Grain Initiative has had a positive outcome, with more than 400 ships full of grain and other foodstuffs leaving Ukrainian ports since then. However, it should be borne in mind that Russia has stolen around 4 million tonnes of grain from Ukraine, worth, according to the Kyiv Economic Institute, around EUR 1.9 billion USD.
Russia uses the same Black Sea routes to sell stolen grain to countries such as Syria. Russia has been slowing down the implementation of the grain initiative since October and by the end of the month, it was in default.
Putin is taking advantage of the situation and is trying to negotiate a lifting of sanctions. However, there has been no sign of any promise of relief. Therefore, on 17 November. The Black Sea Grains Initiative was extended for another 4 months. By March 2023, the EU and international partners must improve ground infrastructure and transport food supply lines to avoid having to come back to the negotiating table with Russia.
However, Europe’s role, which remains key in the export of Ukrainian grain to developing countries, must also be recalled. In May, the EC set up the Solidarity Corridor to improve global food security in order to provide vital economic support to Ukraine.
In November, EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell presented the role of European countries in the Black Sea Grains Initiative agreement to a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. It is reported that some 15 million tonnes of cereals and other Ukrainian agricultural products have been exported through the Solidarity Corridors.
The High Representative assured that the countries bordering Ukraine – the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and the Republic of Moldova – had provided the necessary infrastructure for the export of grain.
Mr. Borrell recalled that the EU Solidarity Corridors and the Black Sea Cereals Initiative were expected to reduce food prices by around 15% worldwide once Ukrainian cereals were exported.
Many African countries can not reach Ukraine’s grain
Many African countries are not receiving grain only because of Russia’s military action in Ukraine. This should be one of the main messages of the EU’s strategic communication in the information space.
Russia is trying to spin the narrative of global food shortages, blaming the EU and the West for the economic sanctions, pointing to these as the main causes of food shortages. However, it is Russia that is deliberately destroying Ukraine’s agricultural and transport infrastructure and equipment, causing fuel shortages and problems in global food supply chains, and, on top of that, plundering Ukraine’s grain.
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Source: Mano ukis
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