Reports of Russia stealing Ukraine grain ‘credible’, says US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday referred to as stories of Russia stealing Ukrainian grain ‘credible’. This allegation has already been made by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Photo: AP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave help Monday to stories that Russia has stolen grain from Ukraine for resale, whilst Moscow blocks the nation from exporting its personal corn.

“There are credible reports… that Russia is pilfering Ukraine’s grain exports to sell for its own profit,” Blinken mentioned at a State Department convention on meals safety points arising from the invasion of Ukraine.

“Now, Russia is hoarding its food exports as well,” Blinken added, outlining the explanations for the sharp surge in international costs for wheat and different grains, and looming shortages.

The warfare “is having a devastating impact on global food security because Ukraine is one of the breadbaskets of the world,” Blinken mentioned.

The New York Times reported Monday that quite a few freight vessels have departed Russia-controlled ports with what US officers have described as “stolen Ukrainian grain.”

It mentioned that the United States has alerted 14 international locations, largely in Africa, in regards to the shipments, as a lot of them are depending on grain imports and already face severely constrained provides.

Blinken mentioned the Russian navy has blocked grain carriers from leaving the Black Sea port of Odessa, in an effort to “blackmail” the world into supporting Moscow’s warfare.

“Right now a Russian naval blockade in the Black Sea is preventing Ukraine’s crops from being shipped to their normal destinations,” he mentioned.

“There is somewhere around 20 million tonnes of wheat that is trapped in silos near Odessa, and in ships literally filled with grain that are stuck in the Odessa port because of this Russian blockade.”

Blinken mentioned it was a deliberate technique by Russian President Vladimir Putin to pressure the remainder of the world “to give in to him,” and remove sanctions on Russia.

“In other words, quite simply put, it’s blackmail,” Blinken mentioned.