DISINFO: Western sanctions cause food crisis and price growth
SUMMARY
Western politicians have been repeatedly accusing Russia of staging “hunger games”. But they have been silent about the fact that anti-Russian sanctions are a powerful catalyst for the food crisis and increase in prices.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative aiming to deflect Russia’s responsibility for the growing food crisis and supply insecurity. This claim was made in the context of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
EU sanctions are directed against the Russian government, the financial sector and the economic elites, targeting the Kremlin's ability to finance the military aggression. No sanctions target food production or export. The US also exempts transactions for food, agricultural products and medical supplies from sanctions.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has destabilised global food markets and is driving food prices up due to increased cost of production, transport and freight insurance. Russia has destroyed substantial food stocks, production, as well as processing and transport capacities in Ukraine.
In spite of the recent agreement brokered brookered with the UN and Ankara, only very few Ukrainian ships leave the Black Sea ports with food export. Russia's de-facto naval blockade and attacks on harbours has prevented more than 20 million tons of grain to leave the ports of Ukraine.
Ukraine is one of the world’s top agricultural producers and exporters. Before the Russian invasion, most of the food produced by Ukraine – enough to feed 400 million people – was exported through the country’s seven Black Sea ports, according to an estimate of the World Food Programme.
For more information on this topic, read the EUvsDisinfo article covering Russian disinformation related to the food security. See more disinformation cases about Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine.