Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Monday that Russia’s blockade imposed on Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea could lead to the loss of tens of millions of tons of grain, which could trigger a food crisis that could affect Europe, Africa and Asia.
Russia, which controls the Black Sea, does not allow ships to enter or exitMr. Zelensky said in an interview with Australian television news magazine 60 Minutes.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Agriculture also announced on Monday the closure of four of its ports controlled by Russian forces. Thus, the ports of Mariupol, Berdiansk and Skadovsk, on the Sea of Azov, and Kherson, on the Black Sea, will be closed. until recovery [de leur] control of Ukrainians, the ministry added in a statement.
Russia wants to completely block our country’s economy, said President Zelensky. Ukraine is one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of agricultural products, especially cereals.
Agriculture will be the center of the next G7 summit
Meanwhile, German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir refers to attacks by Russian forces against Ukrainian grain infrastructure, suggesting that Russia seeks to weaken a competitor in the grain market.
We regularly receive reports of targeted Russian attacks on grain storage traps, manure warehouses, growing areas and infrastructure.Özdemir told regional press group Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland.
According to the words of the German minister reported by the press, Vladimir Putin will seek to get rid of Ukrainian competition in the long runwhile in the short term, Moscow benefits from higher prices in agricultural markets, bringing in more capital for Russia.
Since the beginning of the blockade of its ports, the volume of grain exports from Ukraine has fallen. Kyiv tried to increase grain transportation by rail, but faced compatibility problems between Ukrainian and European rail networks.
Cem Özdemir noted that assistance for grain exports from Ukraine will be raised at a meeting of agriculture ministers at the next G7 meeting, scheduled for May 13-14.
We need to find other means of transportationhe explained. Rail transportation could be an option to increase grain exports, although it will require a lot of effort for a limited quantity.
Source: Radio-Canada
