They want Russia to unblock the exits of wheat from Ukraine, a country that before the war was one of the world’s main exporters of cereals and agricultural fertilizers and its merchandise was essential for the food security of areas such as the Middle East and North Africa.
The Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi di Maio, assured this Saturday that “the world bread war has already begun” due to the grain blockade in Ukraine, which prevents many vulnerable countries from having access to the grain, and that implies “the risk of that new conflicts break out in Africa”.
“The world bread war is already underway and we must stop it. We risk political instability in Africa, the proliferation of terrorist organizations, coups: this can be caused by the grain crisis we are experiencing,” said Di Maio.
Ukraine was before the war one of the world’s leading exporters of cereals and agricultural fertilizers and their wares were critical to the food security of areas such as the Middle East and North Africa.
The Italian representative added that Russian President Vladimir Putin “must reach a peace agreement as soon as possible, which also includes an agreement on grain, such as a ceasefire agreement that allows us to evacuate women, civilians and children who are under Russian bombs in eastern Ukraine for 100 days”.
“There are 30 million tons of grain blocked in Ukrainian ports by Russian warships,” said Di Maio, who indicated that “what we are doing is working so that Russia unblocks the export of wheat to Ukrainian ports, because now We ourselves run the risk of new wars breaking out in Africa.”
They propose maritime corridors
The head of Italian diplomacy recalled that “we will hold a first dialogue session with the Mediterranean countries on food security, we will work with all partners together with Germany, Turkey, France and many others to achieve the goal of unlocking the quantities of wheat that They must leave Ukraine.”
Italy offered a few days ago to demine the ports of Ukraine and create “maritime corridors” for the transport of wheat and Prime Minister Mario Draghi telephoned Putin to ask him to unblock the export of grain from Ukraine, also from the Black Sea and Sea of Azov ports such as Mariupol, invaded by Russian troops.
The Russian president replied that if the West lifted sanctions on Russia, his country could export grain.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), headquartered in Rome, has warned of the repercussions that the war between Ukraine and Russia, both giant grain exporters, is having on food security around the world.
Italy is organizing a Ministerial Dialogue with the Mediterranean countries for June 8, in collaboration with the FAO, to understand the needs and outline intervention measures in the face of the serious repercussions of the war on food security, in particular in the Mediterranean and Africa.