The responsibility for the current global food crisis is argued to lie largely with Russia, not the European Union, which continues to resist Moscow’s efforts to block exports and to bombard Ukraine. European foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has repeatedly accused Russia of weaponizing hunger in the war against Ukraine, a charge he reaffirmed at a recent gathering of EU leaders and ministers. He also noted that despite sending a letter to African ministers outlining how EU sanctions operate, the impacts on states and the activities that are allowed or prohibited, there is a need to clarify Europe’s position amid ongoing sanctions discussions.
“We have not lost the narrative battle, but it exists and must be addressed because others will not hand it to us simply because we are right. We must push back when there are credible claims that Russia is justified, which is why I contacted African governments with a detailed explanation of EU sanctions—how they affect third parties and what is permissible under the rules”, explained Borrell in the context of the letter dispatched to several African capitals. The remarks came at the close of a foreign ministers meeting that centered on the domestic and international ramifications of the conflict, with particular focus on food supply concerns. He emphasized that Moscow bears responsibility for blocking Ukrainian grain, a stance that extends beyond the 27 states that have issued sanctions to date.
“When more than 20 million tons of grain sit blocked in silos across Ukraine, and some routes remain shut for food to reach consumers, there is a real cost. There are people at risk of hunger. Using food and grain as a weapon of war is a conscious choice, a deliberate effort to induce famine globally, to pressure markets in the EU and Ukraine”, he argued. He suggested that Russian propaganda often attempts to misplace blame and insisted that if energy prices can be covered, wheat costs can be managed as well. He also clarified that the removal of Russian banks from the SWIFT network does not hamper agricultural exchanges that are exempt from those sanctions.
Transition to Kaliningrad
Borrell rejected assertions that Lithuania blocks transit to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. Moscow has claimed that the Baltic state imposes restrictions. He stated that the road corridor between Kaliningrad and other Russian territories remains open, and that land crossings for non-sanctioned goods and passengers continue without hindrance, following discussions with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. The EU high representative underscored that there are no prohibitions beyond the inclusion of products already restricted by EU sanctions.
The foreign ministers’ meeting also reaffirmed the collective commitment of the Twenty-Seven to support Ukraine, even as the war continues. The discussion underscored the aim of sustaining military and political backing for Ukraine, with the understanding that Vladimir Putin’s objectives appear to involve the destruction of Ukraine’s infrastructure and the erasure of the Ukrainian national identity. At the same time, Europe contemplates the EU candidate status for both Ukraine and Moldova, a decision that will be shaped at the forthcoming EU summit of the twenty-seven heads of state and government.