Russia Is Weaponizing Food Supplies, Europe Says

[andricv]

Source: Wall Street Journal

KYIV, Ukraine—European officials blamed Moscow for a looming global food crisis as Russia’s ongoing blockade of Ukrainian ports threatens the country’s grain exports, while fighting rages in the east.

Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, walked out of a Security Council meeting on Monday after European Council President Charles Michel accused the Kremlin of weaponizing food supplies, in a heated exchange.

European Union foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell also cast doubt on Russia’s claims that it isn’t hindering the export of grain, citing reports that Moscow struck Ukraine’s second-biggest grain terminal in the southern port city of Mykolaiv over the weekend.

The Ukrainian military’s southern command said Russia had fired cruise missiles from over the Black Sea toward Mykolaiv on Sunday. Two missiles were shot down, the command said, but others hit port facilities and grain storage silos.

Read more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-is-weaponizing-food-supplies-in-ukraine-europe-says-11654597039?mod=mhp

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Putin knows this could affect Democrats, as voters usually blame the party of the President in power for all woes.
It could also weaken Europe, and poorer nations such as as those in Latin America and Africa will pay the consequences.
If there is something Africans don't need right now is more suffering.

If this becomes a big problem, we have to get even more involved in Ukraine.

[durablend]

1. Of course he is

His BFF TFG is probably on the phone with him daily "Make this happen for me pooty BB"

[dalton99a]

2. Kick

Since pulling back from Ukraine’s capital and other areas of northern Ukraine in March, Russia has concentrated its firepower on the east, making slow progress toward its aim of seizing the entire Donbas area, which includes Luhansk and the neighboring Donetsk region. At the same time, Russian forces are continuing to shell border areas while striking strategic targets deeper inside Ukraine, including railway infrastructure and grain storage facilities.

[European Council President Charles] Michel said he had seen millions of tons of grain and wheat stuck in containers and ships at the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odessa several weeks ago. Russian attacks on transport infrastructure and grain-storage facilities, as well as tanks, bombs and mines are also preventing Ukraine from planting and harvesting, Mr. Michel said.

“This is driving up food prices, pushing people into poverty, and destabilizing entire regions,” Mr. Michel said. “Russia is solely responsible for this looming food crisis. Russia alone.”

The blockade of Ukraine’s ports has pushed crops across roads and rail to Ukraine’s western borders or down the Danube to be loaded onto ships in Romania. Ukraine is rushing to fix damaged railways, roads and bridges.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Starvation is an age old method of terror and control.

The British did it to the Irish for centuries.

[JCMach1]

4. In Kenya currently and their largest cooking oil factory is shuttering

Due to lack of raw materials... From Ukraine and knockon supply issues of alternative cooking oil.

Might be time to up your home supply of oil before it hits the US too.

Grocery and petrol prices are also through the roof.

[Wuddles440]

5. Enough of this BS!

It's time for the international community to aggressively regain control of the Black Sea and open the ports.

[andricv]

9. +1

[Evolve Dammit]

12. Agree 100%

[ck4829]

15. Indeed

[David__77]

6. Biden is right to have not gotten this country into war.

…

[ck4829]

7. K&R. Russians are raising food prices.

[BeyondGeography]

8. Putin also enjoys flooding democracies with refugees

First from Syria, then Ukraine and now, hopefully (from his POV), Africa. Nevertheless, I read here regularly that Putin isn’t a threat and we should stick to our knitting.

[ancianita]

10. Starvation is a "tradition" of Russian leaders.

No doubt Koch's father learned, while in Russia, and later, so did Chas. Koch, his son. Which is why he had Trump move the USDA down to his area of Kansas. Would corporate food create inflation and formula shortages? Well, there's no proof, is there.

[Rebl2]

11. I remember

they did that and many employees did not want to move here (am in KC area). Can’t say I blame them. Wonder if they are still short employees.

[Evolve Dammit]

13. no proof, but we know what they want; more for themselves and less for you. Carlin's American Dream

Sums it all up in a twenty minute stand-up.

[paleotn]

14. Open the Black Sea...

End the blockade and dare Russia to do anything about it. They can't since their preferred threat would mean their own extinction. Even evil people don't want to die in a flash of light, heat and gamma radiation.