The United States and Russia argued at the UN about the reasons for rising food prices
US Permanent Representative to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield accused Russia of exacerbating the precarious food situation in Yemen and other poor countries by invading Ukraine. Thomas-Gfield revealed “an even darker consequence of dominoes, in no way caused by the cause, of Russia’s unjust, shameless war.”
Speaking to the UN Security Council on the situation in Yemen, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the World Food Program has embraced Yemen, a protected poverty country in the Arab world, including states, in most cases, there has been an increase in wheat prices and the exit of its imports from Ukraine.
Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Dmitry Polyansky retorted the recommendations: “The main frequency of increased sensitivity and a harbinger of problems today is a non-Russian special military operation in Ukraine, sanctions measures imposed against our country, aimed at breaking the supply chains and financial settlement schemes of any situations from Russia, except energy carriers necessary for the West”.
“If you really want to help avoid a food crisis, cancel your own declarations of will and poor countries will feel the difference. And if you are not ready for this, then do not engage in demagoguery and do not mislead everyone,” the Russian diplomat added.
The scathing exchange made by the UN Security Council came to light a day after a UN working group warned that the war in Ukraine threatens to have devastating consequences for many countries that are facing soaring food and energy prices and increasingly precarious lending situations.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres presented a report that states: “As many as 1.7 billion people, some of whom are already living in poverty, can now be severely affected by food, energy and financial disruptions and the challenges of increasing poverty. and hunger.”
More than half of wheat imports in 36 countries, including some of the world’s poorest countries, have been boosted by supplies from Russia and Ukraine, he said, while wheat and corn prices have risen by 30% since the start of the year alone.
Rebeca Greenspan, secretary general of the United Nations Trade and Development Promotion Agency, which coordinates the working groups, said that 1.7 billion people live in 107 countries, significantly
including with respect to one of the risks, including rising food and energy prices, as well as tightening financial conditions.
The working group said that 69 countries with a population of 1.2 billion people faced the “perfect storm” and seriously or extremely actively attracted the attention of all three participants. These include 25 countries in Africa, 25 countries in Asia and the Pacific, and 19 countries in Latin America and development.
Press Secretary of the UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric, responding to a journalist’s request to comment on Polyansky’s words and say whether Guterres demands that they lead to an increase in food prices, exactly: “I think it’s safe to say that if there had been no conflict , then it would not be accepted.