Russia has extended its invasion of Ukraine into a ‘grain war’, says minister

Russia has deliberately decided to extend the military war against Ukraine into a grain war, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said during the closing press conference of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Germany.

“Russia’s actions are causing supplies to fail, prices to soar immensely – not just in our country but across the world – and the threat of brutal famine,” Baerbock said.

“We must not be naive – this is not collateral damage. It is a deliberately chosen instrument in a hybrid war that is being fought right now,” she added.

“Russia is preparing fertile ground for new crises in order to deliberately weaken international cohesion against Russia’s war,” Baerbock said.

Some background: Russia and Ukraine produce nearly 30% of global wheat exports. Russian troops are stealing agricultural equipment and thousands of tons of grain from Ukrainian farmers, as well as attacking food storage sites with artillery, according to sources.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said last week that around 400,000 tonnes of grain had been stolen by Russian troops.

And the CNN tracked down a Russian ship loaded with nearly 30,000 tonnes of Ukrainian grain that was diverted from two Mediterranean ports before landing in Syria.

“How we act, or how we don’t act, will shape the way we live together in the world for many years or perhaps decades. In the end not saying anything is not an option for us, for me personally,” Baerbock said.

“Having to make a lot of decisions in recent weeks to support Ukraine in a sprint.” Baerbock now fears the alliance must prepare for “a long-distance race” to “fight this global crisis”.

“We will never recognize the border changes that Russia wants to impose by military force,” added Baerbock.