The G7 leaders stated on Saturday that the Ukraine conflict is fueling a worldwide food and energy crisis that threatens poor countries, and that urgent actions are needed to unblock grain stocks that Russia is stopping from leaving Ukraine.
The war has become a “global disaster,” according to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who held a gathering of top G7 officials.
She predicted that up to 50 million people, primarily in Africa and the Middle East, would go hungry in the coming months unless measures are found to release Ukrainian grain, which accounts for a sizable portion of global supply.
The G7 vowed to provide further humanitarian relief to the most vulnerable in remarks issued at the conclusion of the three-day meeting on Germany’s Baltic Sea coast.
“Russia’s war of aggression has generated one of the most severe food and energy crises in recent history, which now threatens those most vulnerable across the globe,” the group said.
“We are determined to accelerate a coordinated multilateral response to preserve global food security and stand by our most vulnerable partners in this respect,” it added.
Melanie Joly, Canada’s Foreign Minister, said her country, another big agricultural exporter, is ready to deploy ships to European ports to transport Ukrainian grain to people in need.
“We need to make sure that these cereals are sent to the world,” she told reporters. “If not, millions of people will be facing famine.”
Russia has denied responsibility for rising world famine and driving up food costs.
“Prices are rising because of sanctions imposed by the West under pressure of the USA,” Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. “Failure to understand this is a sign either of stupidity or intentional misleading of the public.”
The coalition, which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, also restated its position that the territory captured by Russian forces must be restored to Ukraine.
“We will never recognize borders Russia has attempted to change by military aggression,” they said.
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