United Nations building in New York
Russia came under pressure in the UN Security Council on Friday from its ally China, developing countries, as well as Western countries, to avoid a global food crisis, and to quickly allow the passage of Ukrainian grain shipments.
Russia has also been criticized by the United Nations, UN members and the council for attacking Ukrainian ports, after withdrawing from a year-long grain deal, and for destroying port infrastructure, a violation of international humanitarian law that prohibits attacks on civilian infrastructure.
In response to Russia declaring large areas in the Black Sea dangerous to maritime navigation, the United Nations warned that a military accident at sea could lead to “catastrophic consequences.”
Russia said it had suspended the Black Sea grain initiative because the United Nations had failed to overcome hurdles in shipping its foodstuffs and fertilizers to world markets, the other half of the Ukraine grain agreement.
The Kremlin has stated that it would consider resuming Ukrainian shipments if it progresses in overcoming obstacles, including banking arrangements.
China’s Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, Jing Shuang, noted the commitment of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to do his utmost to ensure that Ukrainian grain, Russian food and fertilizers reach world markets.
He expressed the hope that Russia and the United Nations would work together to resume exports from the two countries “at an early date,” in order to “maintain global food security and alleviate the food crisis in developing countries in particular.”
For her part, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield accused Russia of using the Black Sea as a means of “blackmail” and playing political games, noting that Russia exports more grain than ever before at higher prices.
It called on the UN Security Council and all 193 member states of the United Nations to join hands, urging Russia to resume negotiations in good faith.
In the same context, many developing countries have warned of the impact of stopping Ukrainian grain shipments, which has already led to higher wheat prices.
Michel Biang, Gabon’s ambassador to the United Nations, said the grain agreement had prevented a spike in grain prices and eased the threat to food security in the drought-hit Horn of Africa and other regions.
He urged talks to “break the current stalemate” and avert a humanitarian crisis.
Mozambique’s ambassador to the United Nations, Pedro Afonso, said Russia’s action is certain to “amplify socio-economic pressures in a world already reeling from an all-out storm of conflict and climate change” and a loss of confidence in multilateral solutions.
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2023-07-22 15:05:39
