DISINFO: Russia's actions did not and cannot affect the food problem in the world
SUMMARY
Russia's actions did not and cannot affect the food problem in the world.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation message denying Russia's responsibility for the global food crisis.
Russia’s war in Ukraine—a war between two agricultural production powerhouses, in the context of globalised agricultural markets—presents never-before-seen consequences for global agriculture and food security.
Russian warships are blocking Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea, preventing the export of grain, which poses a risk to global food supply chains. Russia's invasion of Ukraine could soon cause a global food crisis that may last for years, the UN has warned. The World Bank calls it a human catastrophe.
According to the UN's World Food Programme (UNWFP), the crisis is another fallout from the war, which Russia started on 24 February.
The UNWFP also said, that ports in the Odesa area of southern Ukraine must be re-opened urgently to prevent the global hunger crisis from spinning out of control.
Ukraine is one of the world’s top agricultural producers and exporters. Before the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022, most of the food produced by Ukraine – enough to feed 400 million people – was exported through the country’s seven Black Sea ports, according to an estimate from the World Food Programme.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has destabilised global food markets and is driving food prices up due to increased cost of production, transport and freight insurance. Russia has destroyed substantial food stocks, production, as well as processing and transport capacities in Ukraine, and continues to block Black Sea trade routes , which prevents the export of Ukrainian grain.
The EU is a leading humanitarian and development donor in food security and is spearheading international efforts with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
In December 2021, the EU has pledged €2.5 billion for 2021-2024 to reduce all forms of malnutrition at the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Tokyo.
Read more disinformation cases about Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine.