A global end run on Russia鈥檚 food weapon
Four months into Russia鈥檚 war, the campaign for Ukraine鈥檚 freedom has now been joined by two other campaigns: freedom for global food markets and freedom for an estimated 47 million people around the world who could go hungry as a result of the invasion.
On Monday, the leaders of the G-7 club of leading industrial powers pledged at a meeting in Germany to counter a Russian naval blockade of Ukraine鈥檚 ports and the destruction of the country鈥檚 highly valued grain exports. A similar message was sent last week at a special 鈥渇ood summit鈥� in Berlin and is expected at a NATO meeting this week.
Russia鈥檚 use of food disruption as a weapon of war 鈥� considered a war crime 鈥� has evoked a global response almost as intense as that against the war itself. Last year, Ukraine was the fourth-largest exporter of grain and seeds. But with Russian forces killing Ukrainian farmers, blowing up storage silos, and obstructing Black Sea ports, those exports have dwindled, raising fears of shortages for many of the world鈥檚 most vulnerable nations.
The G-7 countries 鈥� Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and the United States plus the European Union 鈥� decided to coordinate their assistance to Ukraine agriculture and to dozens of countries facing acute food insecurity. The goal is not only humanitarian. Russia has described its food tactic as a 鈥渜uiet but ominous鈥� way to weaken world resistance to the war.
Since March, both Poland and Moldova have opened land routes for exports of Ukrainian wheat, barley, corn, and vegetable oil, lessening the crisis to a degree. So-called grain trains are now reaching safe ports. Still, Western countries may need a greater effort 鈥� akin to the 1961 Berlin airlift during the Cold War 鈥� to ensure more exports.
Ending Russia鈥檚 naval blockade by force has been ruled out by the U.S. Instead, both the United Nations and a few leaders of developing countries are beseeching Moscow to allow shipments out of Ukraine 鈥� to save Russia鈥檚 reputation among countries it has long courted.
The fight for Ukraine鈥檚 future is now a global struggle for free markets and freedom from hunger. The war is no longer just about a country鈥檚 self-determination. It is also about world self-sufficiency in food.
