U.S., allies are looking for solutions to free up millions of tons of grain stuck in Ukraine

02.06.2022 07:40

The U.S. administration, together with allies and partners, are working out options to ease the fallout of the food crisis that is unfolding over the ongoing war Russia is waging against Ukraine, to unblock Ukrainian seaports and help Ukraine export its grain intended for global markets.

That’s according to CNN citing administration officials, Ukrinform reports.

“The Biden administration is working to get temporary storage containers for Ukrainian grain into the country, a stopgap measure as it seeks to mitigate a growing food crisis caused by Russia’s months-long blockade of Ukrainian ports,” the report reads.

These storage containers – such as bags or boxes – could help salvage some of the more than 20 million tonnes of grain that are currently stuck inside Ukraine. They could also help Ukraine load the grain onto trains or trucks out of the country once overland routes are established, a senior administration official explained.

Read also: FM Kuleba: Ukraine working on UN-led operation to export food

Still, as these efforts are underway the U.S. and its international partners are no closer to finding a quick and absolute solution to lifting the Russian blockade of Ukrainian ports.

“From a practical perspective, the only option is still try and see how to unblock Odesa,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told CNN on Tuesday.

“Every option should be explored and if possible, every option should be used…

“If Russians don’t allow it, we need to, as a global community, we need to find a solution how to do it without Russian agreement,” Landsbergis said.

UN and Turkish officials are preparing for separate rounds of diplomatic talks with Moscow coalescing around a new plan to try to open up sea routes for Ukrainian grains, sources say.

Read also: Russians steal almost 500,000 tonnes of grain from occupied Ukrainian territories

Meanwhile, millions of tonnes of grain remain stuck in Ukraine, stored in silos and at the port in Odesa, leading to a dramatic spike in global food prices that’s likely to worsen as the war continues. 

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-economy/3497874-us-allies-are-looking-for-solutions-to-free-up-millions-of-tons-of-grain-stuck-in-ukraine.html

 June 01, 2022

Pope Warns Of Weaponizing Food As Ukrainian Grain Blockaded

"Please, one does not use grain, a basic food, as a weapon in war," he said on June 1 adding that everything must be done to solve the problem and guarantee people's basic right to food staples

Pope Francis has warned that food cannot become a weapon in the war Russia has launched against Ukraine.

The 85-year-old pontiff said during a regular audience on St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on June 1 that a blockade of grain exports from Ukraine, which millions of people depend on, especially in the poorest countries, "is causing grave concern."

"Please, one does not use grain, a basic food, as a weapon in war," he said, adding that everything must be done to solve the problem and guarantee people's basic right to food staples.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, it has blockaded Ukraine's ports, halting the shipment of thousands of tons of grain from one of the world's largest suppliers. Ukrainian officials have also accused Russia of stealing grain stocks from Ukraine and shipping them back home.

On June 1, the Kremlin said sanctions imposed on Russia by the West, and moves by Ukraine, were to blame for the potential food crisis.

Based on reporting by dpa and TASS

https://www.rferl.org/a/pope-no-weaponizing-food-ukraine-war/31878555.html