Russia weaponising food during Ukraine crisis: US
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Washington: Speaking at UN Security Council, US Secretary of state Antony Blinken urged Russia to open up Ukraine's Black Sea ports to allow the movement of food and fertiliser around the world, according to The Guardian.
Meanwhile former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who is now a senior security official, said that Russia would not resume supply chains until sanctions on it were lifted by the West.
Alongside, the US accused Russia of holding world's food supply hostage, The Guardian reported.
Antony Blinken said at a meeting of Biden Administration that Russia would not accomplish in breaking the spirit of Ukrainian people by withholding food.
Russia held hostage of food for millions around the world including Ukrainians, he said.
Russia and Ukraine together supply 30 per cent of global wheat, and 69 percent of sunflower oil for the word came from the warring nations, according to the report.
Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday Russia, in return for allowing food supply, wanted "assistance from trading partners, including on international platforms" to avert the possible famine.
With Ukraine sinking Russia's battle ship Moskva, the west understood that Ukraine needed more sophisticated weapons and the news agency Reuters reportedly learnt that White House as working on such a plan.
The US is actively considering to directly shipping to Ukraine two powerful anti-ship missiles, the report said.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions on Russia led to disruption of supply lines of food and fertilizers, rousing fears of a famine in the developing countries.
