The war had become a “global disaster,” according to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who held a gathering of top G-7 diplomats.
She predicted that up to 50 million people, mostly in Africa and the Middle East, would go hungry in the coming months unless Ukraine’s grain, which makes up a significant portion of the global supply, is released.
The G-7 vowed to deliver more humanitarian relief to the most vulnerable in remarks released at the close of the three-day meeting on Germany’s Baltic Sea coast.
“Russia’s aggression has resulted in one of the worst food and energy crises in modern history, threatening the world’s most vulnerable people,” the group stated.
“We are committed to accelerating a coordinated multilateral response to protect global food security, and we will stand alongside our most vulnerable partners in this regard,” the statement continued.
Melanie Joly, Canada’s foreign minister, said her country, which is another big agricultural exporter, is ready to deploy ships to European ports to transport Ukrainian food to those in need.
“She told reporters, “We need to make sure that these cereals get to the rest of the world.” “Millions of people would face famine if this does not happen,” she added.
Russia has refuted accusations that it is to blame for world hunger and rising food costs.
“Prices are rising as a result of sanctions imposed by the West under US pressure,” said Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry. “Failure to grasp this is a sign of either incompetence or deliberate public deception,” she continued.
The G-7 nations also urged China to refrain from assisting Russia, such as by undermining international sanctions or rationalising Moscow’s actions in Ukraine.
Instead of opposing Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence, Beijing should back it “”Assist Russia in its aggressive war,” they declared.
China was warned by the G-7 “to stop manipulating information, spreading disinformation, and using other tactics to justify Russia’s actions against Ukraine.”
The coalition, which includes the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the US, also restated its position that Russian-seized regions must be returned to Ukraine.
