Former German ambassador to Russia says Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to cause hunger crises in the Middle East and Africa. The aim is to destabilize Europe through massive refugee movements, said diplomat Rüdiger von Fritsch. “Putin’s calculus” is that after the collapse of grain supplies, starving people will try to get to Europe.
That is why Russia prevents Ukraine from exporting grain and bombs grain silos, von Fritsch told the Tagesspiegel: “He wants to destabilize Europe with new refugee flows and build political pressure so that western countries give up their tough stance against Russia. This is his new hybrid warfare .”
This includes the use of non-military means, such as cyber attacks or disinformation campaigns.
Exports have come to a standstill
Ukraine is one of the largest grain producers in the world. However, exports via the Ukrainian seaports have come to a halt due to the Russian war of aggression. According to the German government, Russia is blocking the export of 20 million tons of grain in Ukraine, mainly to North Africa and Asia, most of it in the port of Odessa.
According to the New York Times, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also warned on Saturday of a global food crisis if Russia is not soon prevented from blocking wheat supplies. He proposed a “military solution” for this.
US broadcaster NBC News reported in early May that in a meeting with US lawmakers, Zelenskyy expressed a desire for modern anti-ship missiles to break the Russian blockade of Ukrainian ports.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
