US Secretary of State Strongly Condemns Russia at Security Council: "Must Stop Threatening Food Security"

U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken urged on the 3rd (local time) at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting for Russia to stop its threats that are holding the Black Sea, a key export route for Ukrainian grain, hostage, saying Russia is threatening global food security.

Tony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State
Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Secretary Blinken attended the UNSC open debate held that morning on the theme of "Global Food Security Caused by Conflict," criticizing Russia's suspension of the Black Sea Grain Export Agreement and stating, "Hunger must not be weaponized."

Blinken said, "Russia's invasion of Ukraine has resulted in an attack on the global food system," blaming Russia for the worsening global food crisis compared to before.

Previously, in July last year, Ukraine and Russia signed an agreement mediated by the United Nations and T?rkiye to resume grain exports through the Black Sea. Since then, with the reopening of Ukraine's export routes that Russia had blocked, 32 million tons of grain have been exported worldwide since August of the same year. However, Russia suspended the implementation of the agreement on the 17th of last month, citing that promises to guarantee the export of its own agricultural products and fertilizers were not kept.

Blinken stated, "Two-thirds of the wheat Ukraine exports through the Black Sea route was destined for emerging countries," adding, "Kenya's Foreign Minister even said this was like 'a knife in the back' directed at Russia." He further urged, "All UNSC members and UN member states must tell Moscow, 'Enough is enough with using the Black Sea as a means of coercion.'"

He rebutted, "The Kremlin claims it deviated from implementing the Black Sea Grain Export Agreement due to international sanctions, but food and fertilizers are excluded from the sanctions."

Additionally, Secretary Blinken announced the launch of an additional support program worth $362 million to address food insecurity and assist Haiti and 11 African countries.

Meanwhile, Dmitry Polyansky, Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, shifted responsibility to the West during the open debate, saying, "Western countries should focus on ensuring that Russia's grain and fertilizers can be supplied without disruption to countries in need."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.