The sanctions do not prevent countries from engaging in commerce in agricultural products with Russia and other nations.
“grain crisis” Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the entire world is facing high inflation and scarce supplies of food grains as nearly 25% of the world’s wheat exports were supplied by Russia and Ukraine before the beginning of the conflict.
As a result of Russia’s invasion and blockade of Ukraine’s grain exports, millions of people are now at risk of hunger, especially in developing countries, and there is a massive shortage of grain as well as fertilizer. In order to restore global stability, “there is an urgent need for conversation,” according to the chair of the African Union Commission.
Meanwhile, Russia is being pressurised by the Western nations to release Ukraine’s vast food reserve because the food prices are soaring due to the Russian blockade. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently said that “Those who started a war against our state have Africa as a hostage”. He claimed that in order to release grain stockpiles confined to Ukrainian Black Sea ports, his government was engaged in “complicated discussions.”
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Talking about the impact of the war on the African nations Zelensky added, “The conflict may appear to be happening far away from your countries. However, “millions of African families” homes have already been invaded by (the conflict) as a result of the food costs that are tragically rising.”
European Union holds Russia accountable for the food crisis
The European Union’s top diplomat announced on Monday that he has written to all African foreign ministers to clarify that the impending global food crisis is not the result of the bloc’s sanctions against Russia. He also promised to find a way for exports of food and fertilizer to reach their continent.
In its sanctions policy, the EU has not prohibited the export of Russian food or fertilizer to non-EU countries. Earlier this month, the President of Senegal and the chairman of the African Union informed Macky Sall and Russian President Vladimir Putin that the conflict in Ukraine and Western sanctions had made food shortages worse. He also made an appeal to other nations to prevent the obstruction of grain and fertilizer supplies from Russia and Ukraine.
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that Russia has been blockading Ukrainian exports and accused the nation of destroying food stocks, ports, and transport infrastructure. The Kremlin’s attempt to attribute the crisis to Western sanctions was mere “propaganda,” according to Borrell, who added that it was “a purposeful endeavor (by Russia) to generate famine in the world.” According to the EU, approximately 20 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain did not reach the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia due to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
EU assured that African nations would receive aid from their side. It declared that all financial and economic actors would get letters from the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, outlining their rights under the sanctions framework. The sanctions do not prevent countries from engaging in commerce in agricultural products with Russia and other nations.
European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU)
A group of 28 European nations constitutes the European Union, which functions as a unified economic and political organization. The Euro is the official currency of 19 of these nations. There are 9 EU nations that do not use the euro: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
In order to put an end to decades of conflict between European nations, which culminated in World War II and devastated much of the continent, the EU was born out of the ambition to create a single political body for all of Europe. Through a standardized set of regulations that are applicable in all member states when all members have consented to function as one, the EU has created an internal single market.
Some of the EU’s goals are: promoting harmony, morals, and the well-being of all EU citizens, offering internal borderless freedom, security, and justice, and establishing a highly competitive market economy with full employment, social progress, and environmental protection with sustainable development based on balanced economic growth and price stability.
European Commission (EC): The EC is the executive arm of the EU and is in charge of making legislative proposals, carrying out directives, maintaining EU treaties, and overseeing day-to-day operations.
With 28 members, the Commission functions as a cabinet-style government. Each member state has one member. The European Parliament ultimately approves these members once they are suggested by member nations. The Commission President, a candidate put up by the European Council and chosen by the European Parliament, is one of the 28 members.
A director-general who reports to a commissioner oversees the Commission’s Directorates-General (DG) departments, which are comparable to departments or ministries.
The High Representative (HR) of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is selected by the European Council through voting and the President of the EC has to be in agreement with the decision. HR is charged with the responsibility of directing and shaping the EU’s foreign policy, defense policies, and security.
The African Union is an organization made up of 55 governments from the continent of Africa. In 2002, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was replaced by the African Union. The AU is motivated by its own people and guided by its vision of a peaceful, prosperous, and integrated Africa as a driving force in the world economy. It was launched in order to realize Africa’s potential in the battle against colonialism, with an emphasis on greater integration and cooperation among African states for economic development.
