U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia of weaponizing food and holding grain for millions of people around the world hostage to help accomplish what its invasion of Ukraine has not -- “to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people.”
UNITED NATIONS — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia on Thursday of weaponizing food and holding grain for millions of people around the world hostage to help accomplish what its invasion of Ukraine has not -- “to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people.”
Since Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24, he said, its naval operations have sought to control access to the northwestern Black Sea and the Sea of Azov and to block Ukrainian ports which the United States assesses to be “a deliberate effort” to block safe passage and shut down shipping. “You assert that allegedly we are preventing agricultural products from being taken out of Ukraine by sea,” he said. “However, the truth is that it is Ukraine and not Russia that has blocked 75 vessels from 17 states in the ports of Nikolaev, Kherson, Chernomorsk, Mariupol, Ochakov, Odesa and Yuzhniy and has mined the waterways.”
“If you do not want to lift your sanctions of choice, then why are you accusing us of causing this food crisis?" he asked. “Why is it that as a result of your irresponsible geopolitical games, the poorest countries and regions must suffer?” Blinken said sanctions imposed by the U.S. and many others aren’t preventing Russia from exporting food and fertilizers because they exempt exports of food, fertilizer and seeds. “And we’re working with countries every day to ensure that they understand that sanctions do not prevent the flow of these items,” he said.
Beasley recalled that when food prices got out of control in 2007 and 2008 over 40 countries faced political unrest, riots and protests.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russia-Ukraine live updates: Russia fires top commanders over Ukraine war failuresRussia has fired senior military commanders in recent weeks 'who are considered to have performed poorly during the opening stages of its invasion of Ukraine,' the U.K. Ministry of Defense said in an intelligence update.
Read more »
More Ukraine fighters surrender in Mariupol, Russia saysMoscow said nearly 700 more Ukrainian fighters had surrendered in Russian-held Mariupol as it shored up a key gain in the south, while the United States became the latest Western country to reopen its embassy in Kyiv.
Read more »
Russia uses a new 'laser weapon' in Ukraine to counter dronesUkraine has relied heavily on drones to counter Russian aggression. Now Russia may be attempting to quell the resistance with its laser weapons.
Read more »
Finland, Sweden file official applications to join NATO amid Russia-Ukraine warThe pivotal Nordic countries of Finland and Sweden formally applied to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Wednesday, amid Russia's continuing invasion of Ukraine.
Read more »
Live blog: Russia uses laser weapons amid missile shortage, alleges UkraineZelenskyy alleges Russia is using laser weapons after firing more than 2,000 missiles leading to their shortage during its ongoing aggression on Ukraine, where fighting enters its 85th day Follow our live coverage:👇
Read more »
Russia touts new laser weapons, but Ukraine and U.S. are skepticalA senior Russian official told state media on Wednesday that a state-of-the-art laser weapons system has been deployed for active use in Ukraine, a claim that U.S. defense authorities and military experts say has not been substantiated.
Read more »