The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba called not to succumb to russia's blackmail about a "corridor" for the Ukrainian harvest across the Black Sea in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.
He said this during a speech on the meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, reports "European Truth".
“Russia is currently blackmailing, saying it will unblock export routes for Ukrainian agricultural products if the West lifts sanctions. Unfortunately some people are catched by this promise. Indeed, we sympathize with everyone in the world who will be affected by the far-reaching consequences of this russian blockade. But I urge every politician, regardless of his status or the country he represents: before talking about lifting sanctions to save children from starvation, let them come to Ukraine to look at the dead children, talk to parents whose children were raped by the russian military - and shut up," Kuleba said.
He added that the personal trips of foreign partners to the cities of Irpen, Bucha and Borodyanka released after the occupation impressed them greatly and influenced the position of those who were initially more restrained.
"We must oppose the russian narrative that says that the only way to prevent the food crisis is to lift sanctions on russia. We must emphasize the opposite - that it is russia, and only russia, responsible for the global food crisis. And all those who defend the rule of law and the international order should stand in this position," Kuleba stressed.
He also said that he did not believe that Western countries could resolve the issue of russia's naval blockade by force.
The russian blockade interferes with export of foodstuff from Ukraine. This, in turn, threatens millions of people around the world with malnutrition and hunger.
Russia has said it wants sanctions lifted in exchange for unblocking Ukrainian seaports. However, the Office of the President of Ukraine stated that this is direct blackmail.