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Russia and Ukraine fought over wheat export rights
As the battle for cities in eastern Ukraine draws attention, another new front is gaining ground. Competition for wheat export rights raged. The United States and Ukraine have accused Russia of extorting wheat grains and stealing Ukraine’s looted wheat for illegal export.
Ukraine joined the United States in accusing Russia of “extorting” wheat exports, AGence France-Presse reported today. Meanwhile, fighting continued Tuesday for control of Severodonetsk, a key city in eastern Ukraine, where local sources said the situation was “changing by the hour.”
The other big battle, the economic battle, is over the wheat resources of Ukraine, a food superpower. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Moscow on Monday of “blackmailing” Ukraine by blocking its wheat exports and asked for international sanctions to be lifted.
Blinken criticized Russia’s naval blockade of Ukrainian ports, which has blocked Ukrainian grain exports and raised fears of a global food crisis, particularly in Africa.
The United States warned 14 countries, mainly in Africa, in mid-May that Russian ships were carrying “stolen Ukrainian grain,” the New York Times reported. U.S. Secretary of State Antsy Blinken referred to the U.S. newspaper expose, but did not directly confirm the warning to African countries.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Ankara on Friday accused Russia of “stealing” and exporting Ukrainian food to Turkey.
“It is important for us to be ready to export our food,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late yesterday. Russia says the food shortages are Ukraine’s fault… That’s not true.” Zelensky warned that “by the fall, the amount of grain destined for export and blocked by the Russians in Ukraine could triple to 75 million tons.”
“We need a sea corridor and we are discussing this with Turkey and Britain and the United Nations,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Kiev is also in discussions with Poland and the Baltic states to export small quantities of food products by rail.
