Blinken slams Russian claim that sanction caused food crisis

Blinken slams Russian claims that sanctions have caused mounting food crisis.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken slammed Russian claims that U.S. sanctions, rather than Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, triggered the worsening global food crisis.

"Sanctions aren't blocking Black Sea ports, trapping ships filled with food, and destroying Ukrainian roads and railways; Russia is. Sanctions are not emptying Ukrainian grain silos and stealing Ukrainian farm equipment; Russia is," Blinken said before the United Nations Security Council.

"Sanctions aren't preventing Russia from exporting food and fertilizer," he said. He added that Moscow has chosen to weaponize these commodities.

Blinken added that the sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies have deliberately included "exceptions for food, fertilizer and seeds from Russia." America's top diplomat reiterated calls for Russia to stop "blockading the ports in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov and to allow for the free flow of ships and trains and trucks carrying food out of Ukraine."

"Stop preventing food and other lifesaving supplies from reaching civilians in besieged Ukrainian towns and cities," he added.

— Amanda Macias