“Stop weaponizing food,” urges EU as Western powers remain reliant on Russian food exports

15 Nov 2022 --- Western leaders are moving to secure the safe export of food and fertilizer to the world without hindrance from the Russian conflict in Ukraine. The challenge remains of ensuring that sanctions on Russia target its mechanisms of war and not the agri-food produce industry.

The agenda, however, doesn’t come with any real progress on de-escalating the war through peace talks, as the war rages in Eastern Ukraine.

High Representative of the EU, Josep Borrell; the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken; and the Foreign Secretary of the UK James Cleverly have issued a joint statement.

“The EU, the US and the UK, alongside other G7 members and our international partners, are at the forefront of global efforts to address food insecurity that is affecting millions of vulnerable people in developing countries, while also driving up living costs in our own countries,” underscore the authorities.

“This is the strong message that the Foreign Affairs Council has issued today: Russia must stop weaponizing food,” stresses Borrell.

In the same statement, Borrell revealed that the EU shall “continue isolating Russia internationally” and that the bloc will train 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers while having already provided €8 billion (US$8.33 billion) in military equipment.

Additionally, the US announced a new package of US$400 million in military aid last week. 

Sanctions do not target food
The West started to impose more severe economic sanctions on Russia at the start of the invasion and as the war escalated.

“We have always been clear that the target of our sanctions is Russia’s war machine and not the food or fertilizer sectors. To that end, we have provided clarity to industry and partners,” state the three world leaders.

World leaders are calling to renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative to continue moving grain through the Black Sea and Turkey into world markets – the deal expires on November 19.“This includes: the UK’s publication of a General Licence, the US General Licence, as well as updated and detailed EU guidance. These provisions make clear that banks, insurers, shippers, and other actors can continue to bring Russian food and fertilizer to the world.”

However, Russian food and fertilizer have not always had easy access to markets.

The US imposed a 132.6% duty on Russian fertilizer solutions until mid-July, which heavily burdened the agri-sector in the country’s purchasing ability. The burdensome duty ended after the US International Trade Commission intervened.

The UN stated, early in May, that there will be no solution to the food crisis without reintegrating Russia and Ukraine into markets. 

Food corridor must be renewed
The EU, US and UK leaders are also calling to renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative to continue moving grain through the Black Sea and Turkey into world markets – the deal expires on November 19.

“We reiterate our call on all countries to demonstrate their support for the Black Sea Grain Initiative. We call on the parties to the initiative to extend its term and scale up its operations to meet the evident demand. And we reiterate our support for other efforts by the United Nations to facilitate access to food and fertilizer in global markets,” says the Western leaders.

“But do not forget why this initiative has been taking place: it is not because of a natural disaster, it is not because of a tsunami in the Black Sea, it is not because there were pirates. It is because of the blockade of the Russian Army to the exports of Ukraine – using hunger as a weapon,” adds Borrell.  "Russia must stop weaponizing food,” stresses Borrell.

“Russia has no reasons, no legal ground to block food [from] going out from Ukraine to the international markets. What Russia has been doing is illegal and affecting first [of all] the lives of people from vulnerable countries around the world,” he highlights. 

Food corridors, however, have yet to help to move substantial amounts of food toward low-income countries as they have only received 27% of the food, with the most significant beneficiaries being food-secure nations like Turkey, China, Spain and Italy.

Without enough cereals flowing toward some of these countries like Somalia – which imported more than 80% of its wheat from Ukraine and Russia – the European Commission has been forced to step in to announce a new humanitarian aid package of €210 million (US$223.73 million) for 15 food insecure countries. 

So far in 2022, food insecurity has reached unprecedented levels, with at least 205 million people currently acutely food insecure and requiring urgent assistance, flags the Commission. 

“Russia’s war in Ukraine is having a major effect on global food supply. Countries that were already vulnerable to food shocks have been put in a dramatic situation,” emphasizes Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission. 

“We must act to avoid famine in some of the world’s poorest areas. The EU stands with the most vulnerable countries, and today the EU further extends its support to those in need.”

By Marc Cervera