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European Council President Charles Michel accused Russia of triggering a global food crisis with its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine at a meeting of the U.N. Security Council in New York on Monday, prompting Moscow’s U.N. ambassador to walk out.
“The Kremlin is using food supplies as a stealth missile against developing countries,” Michel said. “The dramatic consequences of Russia’s war are spilling over across the globe. And this is driving up food prices, pushing people into poverty and destabilizing entire regions.”
Michel also hit back at Moscow’s claims that Western sanctions are to blame. “The E.U. has no sanctions on the agricultural sector in Russia. Zero. And even our sanctions on the Russian transport sector do not go beyond our E.U. borders,” he said.
“You may leave the room, maybe it’s easier not to listen to the truth Mr. Ambassador,” Michel said, directly addressing Russia’s representative, Vassily Nebenzia, as he stormed from the room, before continuing with his prepared remarks. “Our sanctions do not prevent Russian flagged vessels from carrying grain, food or fertilizers to developing countries,” he said.
Michel’s remarks come the same day U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a virtual meeting on food security that reports Russia is plundering Ukrainian grain to export for its own profit are “credible.” Blinken also accused Russia of using propaganda to shift the blame onto the West even as its bombs destroy fields and its naval blockade prevents Ukrainian grain ships from leaving key ports.
“The Kremlin needs to realize that it is exporting starvation and suffering well beyond Ukraine’s borders,” Blinken said.
