Poland’s foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski has urged for a rapid ceasefire in the Black Sea, so that grain shipments from Ukraine and Russia can be safely moved, saying the Global South is in desperate need of food supplies.
‘I was in favour of rapid action because this grain is badly needed in the Global South,’ Sikorski told reporters last week during a two-day Group of 20 foreign ministers meeting in Atlanta, Reuters reported.
“Ukraine must be part of any effort to end Russia’s war of aggression, which is now in its fifth year,” Sikorski said. “Europe, with its vested interests, should also be part of the negotiations.”
He also said Moscow should be denied the right to start selling energy to Europe again until the war is over in an equitable way.
Since Russia and Ukraine have big exports of agricultural products, the Black Sea is also a major maritime route and the security of ships through this region is a matter of global food security.
Sikorski’s remarks came amid wider diplomatic divisions at the G20 meeting, where Russia’s participation drew objections from several European officials.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov defended Moscow’s position, while European representatives called for greater pressure on Russia over its war against Ukraine.
