Ukrainian and Russian officials engaged in a tense exchange during a meeting in Malta aimed at discussing global food security. The event, part of the 2024 Mediterranean Dialogue, saw Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confront each other over the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Kuleba criticized Russia for its role in destabilizing global food supplies, particularly after Moscow’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which had facilitated the safe export of Ukrainian grain. He accused Russia of using food as a weapon to exacerbate global hunger, a point that Lavrov vehemently denied.
Lavrov, in turn, defended Russia’s actions, arguing that the West’s sanctions on Russia were the real cause of global food insecurity. He claimed that Russia had been unfairly blamed, and stressed that Moscow had been willing to continue the grain deal if the conditions were met, including lifting restrictions on Russian exports.
The meeting, which had been seen as an opportunity for dialogue and diplomatic engagement, highlighted the deep divisions between the two countries. The confrontation underscored the ongoing tensions in the international community surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its wider geopolitical implications. Despite the heated exchange, both ministers remained firm in their respective positions, offering little room for compromise.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE