Due to the blockade of Ukrainian seaports, 7 million tons of wheat, 14 million tons of corn grain, 3 million tons of sunflower oil and 3 million tons of sunflower meal and other crops did not enter the world market. This has already led to a record rise in world market prices and will inevitably result in a global food crisis and rising inflation. This was stated by the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Solsky at the opening of the G7 Ministerial Conference of Agriculture in Stuttgart. The Minister stressed that the increase in the cost of grain leads to an automatic increase in prices for other basic food products around the world – bread, dairy products, meat and eggs. In particular, this situation will be especially critical for countries in Asia and Africa, whose populations spend up to 40% of their total expenditures on food.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that Ukraine is a critical source of agricultural products and a key link in the global food supply chain. After his visit to Odesa, EU Council President Charles Michel stated that a global response to Russia’s blockade was essential. Russia’s blockade is preventing the grains from leaving, which threatens millions of people around the world with malnutrition and famine. The blockade must end.
At the same time, on May 14, it became known that Canada is ready to send ships to European ports so that Ukrainian grain can be delivered to those who need it. This was reported by ctvnews with reference to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Melanie Jolie. The European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, has also proposed the creation of so-called “Solidarity Lines” to help Ukraine resume large-scale exports of agricultural goods suspended by the Russian invasion.
Speaker: Oleh Pendzyn, economist Iryna Kosse, senior research fellow at the Institute of economic research and policy consulting.
UKRAINE IN FLAMES project is created by Ukraine Crisis Media Center, Ukrainian Catholic University’s analitical center and NGO “Euroatlantic Course”. We are aiming at searching a loud support for Ukraine in the war started by Russia on the 24th of February 2022.
If you want to support Ukraine against Russian aggression, check the link with recommendations by Ukraine Crisis Media Center – https://uacrisis.org/en/help-ukraine.
NGO Euroatlantic Course collects donations to support Ukrainian Army and civilians – https://eac.org.ua/en/main-page/.