The West condemns Russia's exit from the 'grain deal': RF uses foodstuffs as a weapon
Photo: The West condemns Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal (RBC-Ukraine, Vitalii Nosach)
Political figures from Western countries denounce Russia's withdrawal from the "Black Sea Grain Deal" and believe that the aggressor country is attempting to use food as a weapon, according to the reactions of Western politicians.
NATO
"I condemn Russia's unilateral decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Deal, despite the efforts by our," wrote NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
"Russia's illegal war against Ukraine continues to harm millions of vulnerable people worldwide," he added.
EU
EU High Representative Josep Borrell stated that Russia's exit from the "grain deal" is terrible news.
"It is really very bad news, this is one of the worst news for the world. The fact that once again, the Ukrainian grain cannot go out of Ukraine, it means that hundreds of thousands of people around the world will be deprived of basic food," he noted.
Borrell believes that this matter deserves action at the UN General Assembly level.
"We cannot sit and just complain. They [Russia] are using hunger as a weapon. This is one of the worst things that Putin could have done, and he did [it]. So, it requires [a] strong answer from the international community," Borrell added.
UK
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly remarked, "Putin is using food as a weapon. The UK strongly condemns Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. This decision hurts the world’s poorest," he wrote.
Latvia
"Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and last night's bombing of the Odesa region, including the port, is another proof of the Russian criminal tactic to weaponize the food Russia bears full responsibility for all the consequences of these actions," wrote Latvian President Egils Levits.
He emphasized that Russia bears full responsibility for these actions' consequences.
Sweden
Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström also pointed out that Russia is using food as a weapon.
"Russia's exit from the Black Sea grain export agreement and the simultaneous bombing of the Odesa port clearly indicate how Russia turns food into a weapon targeting poor countries worldwide. Stand up against this outlaw state," he wrote.
Poland
Polish Minister of Agriculture Robert Telus agrees that Russia is using grain as a weapon.
"Surely Russia uses grain as ammunition, this time it is happening again," he told Reuters.
He also called on the EU to help improve grain logistics as more Ukrainian grain will start flowing across borders after the harvest.
Russia's exit from the "Grain deal"
In recent months, the aggressor country has refused to comply with the "grain deal fully." It blocked the inspections of ships and prohibited grain exports from the "Pivdenny" port.
On July 17, when the agreement's term expired, Moscow declared it would not extend the "grain deal." The reason allegedly was that the Kremlin's conditions were not being met.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed that Turkey and the UN extend the "grain deal" in a trilateral format.
