DISINFO: US and EU pushing Russian products out of the market through illegal sanctions
SUMMARY
The US and the EU are speculating on grain prices, creating an artificial shortage of goods and pushing Russian agricultural products out of world markets through illegal unilateral sanctions.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about EU and US sanctions and the global food crisis.
The events of the last years – conflicts, climate change and COVID-19 pandemic – have had devastating effects on local and global food systems and the people who rely on them. In fact, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in its annual reports, signalled a constant deterioration of food security in the world (even prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine).
However, Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine has significantly worsened these challenges and vulnerabilities.
Since the start of its aggression, Russia has been shelling Ukrainian energy, transport and water infrastructure, including through the destruction of Kakhovka dam, which brings ecological catastrophe and another challenge to global food security. Russia has deliberately burnt crops and stolen Ukrainian cereals. By destroying agricultural and transport infrastructure and equipment and fuel storage, as well as mining the agricultural land, Russia has undermined long-term food production in Ukraine and its export capacities.
Contrary to Russia’s disinformation, the disruption of agricultural production and trade in Ukraine and the spike in global food prices is not caused by EU sanctions - but the very own actions of the Russian Government.
The EU sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus do not target the agricultural sector. The purchase, import and transport of agricultural and food products are exempted from the ban on Russian-flagged vessels.
It is Russia, not the EU or the "West", which brings uncertainty around the uninterrupted functioning of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the export of Ukrainian agriculture products through the Black Sea to the world market.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that Ukraine and the West don’t contribute to global food security, that the EU sanctions undermine global food security and that the global food crisis is a consequence of Western sanctions against Russia.