Ambassador Neil Holland condemns Russia’s decision to collapse
the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
"Thank you, Mr Chair. Last week, we urged Russia to renew the
Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) and stop holding the world’s
food supply hostage. However, on 17 July, Russia took the
unilateral decision to withdraw from the deal. By leaving the
Initiative, Russia is harming global food security, restricting
supplies, and making food less affordable. Because of Russia’s
decision, up to 24 million tonnes of food will not now reach
global markets over the next year. This will particularly impact
the world’s poorest.
The UN Secretary General issued a statement on Monday which makes
clear that it was a Russian decision alone to cause the collapse
of the BSGI. Despite Russian claims to the contrary, the UN and
the international community have made significant progress to
support the export of Russian food and fertiliser. Since the
summer of 2022 Russian exports of food have been above pre-war
levels.
The United Kingdom regrets Russia’s withdrawal from the BSGI and
urges Russia to return to implementation, to enable it to operate
as intended. The omens are not good. It was depressingly
predictable that Russia’s withdrawal from the BSGI should be
followed immediately by three destructive nights of intensified
missile strikes on the Ukrainian ports which are so central to
the passage of grain through the Black Sea.
Reports indicate that these attacks caused civilian casualties,
and that they struck grain infrastructure, including a wholesale
market, storage capacity, loading facilities, and an oil terminal
at the port. Not content with withdrawing from their own
participation in the BSGI, Russia seems intent on denying any
passage of grain at all through the Black Sea for delivery to
those who need it most. This destruction of grain infrastructure
exacerbates food security issues and puts civilians at risk.
Estimates suggest that two thirds of Ukrainian grain goes to feed
people in Africa and Asia. It is the food supply to these people
that is being attacked, as well as Ukrainian national
infrastructure and freedom to trade. We urge Russia to stop these
attacks.
Mr Chair, today I would also like to speak about the temporarily
controlled territories of Ukraine. These are of course Ukraine’s
sovereign territories, despite Moscow’s claims to annex Kherson,
Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in September 2022
following falsified and illegal so-called referendums. The
international community has not recognised these referendums.
Ukraine maintains its control over two regional capitals within
these territories: Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
The so-called “elections” which Russian authorities plan to hold
in these territories on the 10 September will therefore be a
sham. They will not be recognised by the international community.
They are part of Russia’s ongoing attempt to legitimise their
control over these regions. According to Human Rights Watch, this
attempted Russification also includes forced passportisation and
imposition of Russian media, education, and currency. The
elections and these other measures are all gross violations of
the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Ukraine, and a violation of the UN Charter. These actions
convince no-one. These regions are not Russian. They are
Ukrainian.
People living in the temporarily controlled territories are
enduring horrors at the hands of the Russian authorities.
Civilians in Odesa and other Black Sea ports are being terrorised
by missile strikes. The world’s poor and hungry are paying the
price as Russia holds global food supplies hostage. All of this
suffering could end if Russia simply withdrew from Ukraine’s
internationally recognised territory, let grain shipments resume,
and allowed the Ukrainian people to live in peace. Thank you."
