African Food crises not caused by Russia, Ukraine Crisis – Klimov

The Deputy Chair of the Federation Council of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr. Andrey Klimov had said that the cause of food crises in sub Sahara Africa was not as a result of Russian, Ukraine war, but due to sanctions imposed by European Union which prohibit Russia from using their ports as gateway to supply goods.

Klimov who made this known in a virtual meeting Friday with media correspondents from Africa stated that the sanctions have resulted in blocking supply chain which ensures that stuffs get to Africa and other nations dependent on Russian products.

Economic experts have said that one of the effects of the Russian-Ukraine war will be famine as Russia is one of the highest exporters of cereal around the world

Most Africa nations, especially Nigeria is already feeling the effect as it imports Wheat from Russia. Food insecurity in the North East of Nigeria is already adduced to the war compounded by insurgency

Klimov Andrey assures that Russia will always be ready to support Africa in avoiding food insecurity and impending famine once the channel for export is available.

Speaking further, he informed that Russian Government was not at war with Ukraine, which was being used by the West to settle scores with Russia.

He said the West was using Ukraine as a center to launch war against Russia describing Ukraine President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy as puppet who was out to do the bidding of the West.

He said the West is using Ukraine against Russia in defiance of the Minsk agreement which borders on cooperation and relations with Ukraine noting that Russian Military Operations in Ukraine had revealed that Ukraine has missiles, Chemical and Biological Weapons.

He stressed Russia’s willingness to make Ukraine safe for the entire world expressing that Russia will not use nuclear weapon.

Although, there were reports by media organisations that Russia was violating international laws on wars by shooting into Residential areas and targeting children and women, but Russia insisted it only targets Ukraine’s Military bases.

It could be recalled that Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has warned that Nigeria and many African countries may face food crises due to the war in Ukraine.

She made this warning during an exclusive interview with BBC World Service, which was monitored in Abuja yesterday.

Okonjo-Iweala also warned that the war would have global dimensions, stressing the need for an end to the war.

She stated that Russia is the biggest exporter of fertilisers, wheat and maize to many African countries; stressing that the prices of the two grains have gone up by 62 and 36 per cent respectively since the beginning of the war.

The WTO chief also disclosed that the price of soya beans by has inflated by 29 per cent while noting that the cost of purchasing fertilisers globally have gone up by 300 per cent as a result of the ongoing war between the two nations.