Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) has accused Russia of using hunger as a weapon by preventing the export of wheat from Ukraine with port blockades.

This applies within Ukraine, but also globally, Özdemir told Deutschlandfunk on Friday before the conference of G7 agriculture ministers in Stuttgart. Putin’s type of warfare is “particularly perfidious” because Ukraine is so important: Half of the wheat for the World Food Program comes from the country. The shortage and the increase in prices are a deliberate war strategy.

Odessa is currently the last free seaport in Ukraine and “must not fall,” Özdemir continued. Together with the EU and European partners, alternative transport routes for Ukrainian grain are being sought – by land, by rail or via the Danube. However, all of this will not be able to completely replace the sea route, emphasized the Green politician. “Sea routes must be free.” In addition, Ukraine’s defense capability must be strengthened so that the Russian blockade can be lifted.

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