26.8 C
Accra
Friday, December 27, 2024
WorldAfrica is a hostage of Russia's war on Ukraine, Zelensky says

Date:

Africa is a hostage of Russia’s war on Ukraine, Zelensky says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called Africa “a hostage” of Russia’s war during an address to the African Union (AU) on Monday.

Russia’s invasion, and its blockade of Ukraine’s grain exports, have sparked grain and fertiliser shortages and put millions of people at risk of hunger.

The chair of the AU commission said there was an “urgent need for dialogue” to restore global stability.

Western countries have urged Russia to release Ukraine’s vast grain stores.

The blockade has sent food prices soaring.

“Africa is actually a hostage… of those who unleashed war against our state”, Mr Zelensky said in his speech.

He said his government was engaged in “complex negotiations” to unblock grain reserves trapped in Ukraine‘s Black Sea ports.

“This war may seem very distant to you and your countries,” he told the AU. “But the food prices that are catastrophically rising have already brought [the war] to the homes of millions of African families.”

Mr Zelensky’s AU speech comes nearly 10 weeks after he first asked to address the continental body.

The BBC understands that 55 heads of state were invited to the virtual session, but only four attended. The rest of the countries sent representatives.

African countries have been divided in their response to Russia’s war in Ukraine. In March, 17 African countries abstained in a UN vote to condemn the invasion.

But on Monday, AU’s chairperson Macky Sall thanked Mr Zelensky for addressing the union.

Mr Sall said that “Africa remains committed to respecting the rules of international law, the peaceful resolution of conflicts and freedom of trade”.

Initially, the AU did not want to be addressed by Mr Zelensky, and it does not fully agree with what he’s saying – they want dialogue to solve the crisis, as they always have.

Earlier this month, Mr Sall held talks with Russia President Vladimir Putin. He told Mr Putin that African countries are innocent victims of the war in Ukraine and Russia should help ease their suffering.

Volunteers prepare meals for Internal displaced people, fleeing the recent clashes between M23 rebels and Congolese soldiers, at a camp in Kanyarushinya north of Goma
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES Image caption, Food prices across African countries have rocketed, meanwhile millions of tonnes of grain are sitting in warehouses and Ukrainian ports

Earlier on Monday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said of Russia’s blockade: “This is a real war crime, so I cannot imagine that this will last much longer.”

Mr Borrell met EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday to discuss the crisis.

He described Moscow’s actions as “a deliberate attempt to create hunger in the world”.

He rejected Russia’s claim that the current food crisis is a result of EU sanctions, adding that they “don’t forbid” countries outside the EU from conducting food trade with Russia or other nations.

1px transparent line
Percentage of wheat exports from Ukraine1px transparent line

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said that “Russia must stop playing with global hunger” as it seeks leverage over the West.

“Leaving cereals blocked is dangerous for stability in the world,” she said.

The head of the Polish prime minister’s office, Michal Dworczyk, spoke with Ukraine’s infrastructure minister Oleksandr Kubrakov about changes that will speed up checks for trucks on the Polish-Ukrainian border to help export more grain from Ukraine.

Source: BBC

[forminator_poll id="710479"]

Latest stories

I have been trying to make peace with Stonebwouy for the past 5 years – Kelvynboy

Ghanaian Afrobeats artist Kelvynboy, whose real name is Kelvin...

Ghanaian lady goes viral for her resemblance to Martha Ankomah

A Ghanaian woman has become an internet sensation after...

Stop misleading the public with unverified information – MoE to WAEC PRO

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has urged the Public...

Ghana’s Afua Asantewaa hits 121hrs to complete Sing-a-thon

Ghanaian media figure Afua Asantewaa has concluded her sing-a-thon.This...

Ghana still the Mecca of Black race – Bagbin on respect for Democratic governance

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has reassured Ghana’s youth...

Directive to submit nominees for appointments is invalid – NDC warns

The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic...

Related stories

Biden grants full pardon to son Hunter amid criminal sentencing

US President Joe Biden has granted a full and...

Court issues 2-year suspended death sentence to former Bank of China Chair for bribery, others

Former Bank of China chairman Liu Liange on Tuesday received...

Ghanaians among UN peacekeepers injured in Southern Lebanon attacks

The UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon has reported...

Russia denies Trump told Putin to restrain Ukraine war efforts

The Kremlin has rejected media reports suggesting that US...

More than 100 detained as protesters defy Amsterdam’s ban on protests

Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested in Amsterdam on...

Traffic jam erupts as cyclists from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng for dumplings

A social media trend that began as a lighthearted...

Adin Ross wins $1.6m on Trump election bet after public endorsement

American streamer and social media influencer Adin Ross scored...