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Russia’s top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, told the Egyptian leaders that their demand for importing Russian grain would be soon met. The conflict in Ukraine has raised the prospect of food shortages in the continent. Many countries in Africa are reeling under hype inflation triggered by food shortage, especially wheat compounded by the erosion of the local currency’s value against the US dollar
Russia’s top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, told the Egyptian leaders that their demand for importing Russian grain would be soon met. The conflict in Ukraine has raised the prospect of food shortages in the continent. Many countries in Africa are reeling under hyperinflation triggered by food shortages, especially wheat compounded by the erosion of the local currency’s value against the US dollar. He denounced the Western countries for blaming Russia for the wheat shortages and inflation.
Quoting the Food Program report of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Sergey Lavrov said that the food market deteriorated beginning with the coronavirus pandemic. Some contracts and supply chains were affected. The Americans and Europeans start printing money, trillions of dollars, and euros. They used this money for food and medicines and other stuff.
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Lavrov’s visit follows a landmark deal Russia and Ukraine signed on Friday with the United Nations and Turkey. It was aimed at relieving a global food crisis caused by blocked Black Sea grain deliveries. It is estimated that between 20 and 25 million tonnes of grain have been blocked in Ukrainian ports since Russian troops invaded that country in February.
The Russian minister asserted that there was a combination of factors that led to food shortage although sanctions did not cover grain food and fertiliser. But the movement of the Russian ships was severely restricted. Russian ships could not call on the Mediterranean ports, as also the foreign ships were sanctioned against calling on the Russian ports to take grain and other food. Before the outbreak of war, Russia and Ukraine accounted for 85 percent of wheat imports to Egypt. Lavrov met with leaders of the Arab League before heading to Uganda and Ethiopia.
