Blinken to Russia: Enough using Black Sea as blackmail
54 Video Views·Aug 4, 2023
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged all countries at the United Nations on Thursday to tell Russia to stop using the Black Sea as blackmail after Moscow quit a deal that had allowed Ukraine to safely ship its grain to global markets.
This past year, the Black Sea Grain Initiative,
negotiated by the United Nations and Turkey,
delivered over 32 million tons
of Ukrainian foodstuffs to the world.
Wheat exports alone were the equivalent
of 18 billion loaves of bread.
18 billion loaves of bread.
Keep in mind, this initiative never should have been
necessary in the first place.
Only was necessary because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine
and its blockade of Ukrainian ports.
Since Russia pulled out of the arrangement on July 17th,
ignoring the world's appeals,
grain prices have risen by more than 8% around the world.
Kenya's foreign ministry called Russia's move,
and I quote, a stab in the back.
Every member of this council,
every member of the United Nations,
should tell Moscow enough.
Enough using the Black Sea as blackmail.
Enough treating the world's most vulnerable people
as leverage.
Enough of this unjustified, unconscionable war.