Mister/Madame President,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the three Baltic countries – Latvia, Lithuania and my own country, Estonia. We also align ourselves with the Statement of the European Union.
Thank you for convening today’s Security Council briefing. I would also like to thank the briefers for their valuable insight.
I would like to begin by paying tribute to Ukraine in commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor famine, orchestrated by the totalitarian Soviet regime under Stalin’s guidance.
Mister/Madame President,
We are convening once again to address the global food security crisis caused by the Russian aggression against Ukraine. It is shameful that Russia, similarly to 90 years ago, purposefully uses food as a weapon and is putting the lives of millions of people at risk.
Russia is systematically targeting the Ukrainian capacity to produce, store and export agricultural goods. Since July, they have destroyed nearly 300 000 tons of Ukrainian grain. Grain which could have alleviated the situation of so many people in need. Even worse, Russia is cynically using the situation for self-enrichment, as their own grain exports have risen 19% this year, which also includes the grain stolen from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Mister/Madame President,
Russia targets Ukrainian grain production and storages through destruction of agricultural land, shelling of grain silos, food warehouses and ports. Russia continues to present ridiculous claims that these are all legitimate military targets.
Moreover, with cold winter months approaching, Ukraine is expecting an increase in Russian deliberate attacks against civilian and energy infrastructure, similarly to last year. In addition to posing serious risks to civilian population, shelling Ukrainian energy infrastructure also causes significant damage to Ukrainian agricultural sector and hinders its ability to deliver under the “Grain from Ukraine” program. A framework which has delivered food to countries most affected by food shortages – Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen and others. It is inspiring that even under aggression, Ukraine is making efforts to alleviate the global food crisis and offer help to those affected by it. In this vein, we welcome Ukraine’s initiative to convene the 2nd International Food Security Summit.
Since Russia’s unilateral decision to withdraw from the UN brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia has been determined to wipe out Ukrainian food export capacity. They have attacked civilian vessels and are blocking Ukrainian Black Sea ports. While Ukraine has created a temporary corridor for exports by sea, the situation is still unstable. Just recently, a Russian missile struck a Liberian flagged ship in Odessa, killing one person and leaving several injured.
Mister/Madame President,
We call upon Russia to stop undermining global food security. According to the latest Report by the FAO, the global wheat trade is expected to decrease in 2024. The FAO lists the cessation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the Russian aggression related disruptions in Ukraine as driving factors.
The governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania remain committed to finding ways how the Ukrainian grain could reach as many people as possible. We have continued to support the Grain from Ukraine initiative as well as to respond to food crises around the world through WFP. I also emphasize the EU Solidarity Lines initiative, which has delivered over 57 million tons of Ukrainian food to the global market. We will also continue our work on the launching of an alternative Baltic Sea Corridor to the Solidarity Lanes to enable to transit even more Ukrainian grain.
In conclusion, as appropriate to a state led by a wanted war criminal, Russia keeps using starvation as a method of warfare thus violating the UN Charter, the International Law and the International Humanitarian Law. I hope one day Russia will be held fully accountable for this and many other crimes, including the crime of aggression. We call again on Russia to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its troops, mercenaries and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
I thank you.