EU, US and UK clarify that sanctions do not prevent using Russian crops to curb hunger

Latest news today about the war between Russia and Ukraine

BRUSSELS, Nov. 14 () –

The European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom have signed a joint declaration on Monday in which they clarify that banks, insurers, transporters and other actors can continue to bring Russian food and fertilizers to the world to guarantee food security despite the sanctions imposed on Russia after its attack on Ukraine.

The three powers have called on their global partners, and the actors, industries and services involved in agricultural trade to take note of these provisions and act on them to bring Ukrainian and Russian food and fertilizers to meet the acute demand. and for them to continue advancing in the accessibility to food.

This declaration recognizes that the world is facing serious food and nutrition challenges and that conflict, climate change and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are having devastating effects on local and global food systems and on the people who they depend on them, a situation that has worsened with Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

However, the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom, along with other members of the G7 and international partners, recall that they are “at the forefront” of global efforts to address food insecurity that is affecting millions of vulnerable people. in developing countries, while the cost of living increases in their own territories.

In this sense, they recall that they have always been clear that the objective of the sanctions is the Russian war machine and not the food or fertilizer sectors, therefore, with this joint declaration they intend to provide “clarity” to the industry already the partners. This includes the United Kingdom’s publication of a General License, the United States General License 6B; as well as updated and detailed guidance from the EU.

They have also reiterated their appeal to all countries to show their support for the Black Sea Grains Initiative and have asked the parties to the Initiative to extend its deadline and increase their operations to meet the evident demand. Similarly, they have recalled their support for other United Nations efforts to facilitate access to food and fertilizers in world markets.

Finally, they have indicated that they continue to work together with their partners to mobilize the international community, for example, through the Global Crisis Response Group (GCRG) on Food, Energy and Finance, led by the UN, the Global Alliance for Food Security (GAFS), the Roadmap – Call to Action and the Solidarity Tracks led by the EU.

The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, had confirmed the organization’s contacts with the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union with a view to eliminating possible “obstacles” to exports of Russian products, since although it is not the direct object of the sanctions, they do suffer “indirect impacts”.

The head of the United Nations was confident that, once various nuances were clarified, the agreement to export grain from Ukraine could be extended, the term of which expires this Friday and is “extremely important” for food security worldwide.