Russia is 'using hunger and grain to wield power' -EU

STORY: Russia is using food as a weapon in its war on Ukraine.

That's according to European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday, who condemned Russia for targeting Ukraine's grain silos and blockading ships full of grain in the Black Sea, saying a food crisis is fast approaching.

She spoke to Reuters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"It cannot be in Russia's interests that because of Russia people are dying of hunger in the world, and therefore I think that we should first of all look at the dialogue with Russia, whether there is not any agreement that this wheat gets out of Ukraine."

Von der Leyen called for talks with Moscow on unlocking some 20 million tons of wheat exports that are trapped in Ukraine as a result of a Russian sea blockade.

Three months after President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces to invade, Ukraine is top of the agenda at this year's World Economic Forum - a gathering of more than 2,000 business, NGO and political leaders.

"And on top of this, Russia is now hoarding its own food exports as a form of blackmail, holding back supplies to increase global prices of trading wheat in exchange for political support. This is using hunger and grain to wield power."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week accused Russia of holding "hostage" food supplies for not just Ukrainians, but also millions of people around the world. Moscow rejects this allegation.

David Beasley, executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme, told Reuters the world is facing a global food shortage – and Russia’s actions are pushing the crisis to the brink.

"To keep the ports closed as the harvest season is now coming in and Ukraine in July and August, it means a declaration of war on global food security. If you can't get the food out of the fields, I mean, Ukraine grows enough. Food to feed 400 million people at a time."

Russia and Ukraine together account for nearly a third of global wheat supplies.

"Now everyone is beginning to give it the attention that it needs because the consequences if you don't are going to be absolutely horrific, you know."