A food storage facility in Bobrovytsia, Chernihiv region, Ukraine|Bogdan Baryshpolets|CC BY 3.0
World Leaders at the World Economic Forum called Tuesday for a quick action to export over 20 million tons of grain from Ukraine, suspecting the alternative has the power to cause the worst effect of the war. The New York Times reports.
Disruption of grain export from Ukraine can potentially cause famine and political disruption in countries that rely on these resources.
Ukraine’s export and world market
Ukraine plays a significant role in exporting food resources like corn, wheat, sunflower seeds, barley and oats—Kyiv exports over 3.5 million tons of grains per month.
The steady export was heavily affected ever since Russia’s blockade of the Black Sea. According to Ukraine’s Agriculture Ministry, the Black Sea Blockade halted the export of over 7 million tons of wheat and 3 million tons of sunflower seeds.
Russia’s blackmail
Ukraine officials are accusing the Kremlin of seizing their produce and exporting it as Russian. The President of the European Union’s executive branch, Ursula von der Leyen, supported Ukraine’s accusation at the WEF, saying, “Russia is now hoarding its own food exports as a form of blackmail, holding back supplies to increase global prices, or trading wheat in exchange for political support.”
Alternatives for export
Ukraine continues to export grains through land to Europe, and the Ministry is working on expanding these routes. But exporting volumes similar to seaway shipment through railway would be difficult for Ukraine.
(Read the full story in The New York Times.)
