US Secretary of State Calls for 'End to War' in Ukraine While Condemning Russia

On Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in his speech at the United Nations Security Council, condemned Russia for the unjust and unreasonable consequences of the Ukraine war on global food security and called for an 'end to the war' in Ukraine. According to Voice of America, Blinken stated, 'Every member of the United Nations must tell Moscow enough is enough; using the Black Sea for international extortion is sufficient.' The US Secretary of State emphasized to Russia, 'It is enough to consider the most vulnerable countries in the world as leverage; stop this unjust and unreasonable war.' Blinken referred to Russia's 'instrumental use' of the Black Sea as 'extortion' and warned about its consequences on Ukrainian grain exports, which affect millions worldwide. Furthermore, as the rotating president of the Security Council, Blinken stressed that the Ukraine war, as a 'main driver of food insecurity,' has pushed 117 million people into severe deprivation last year. In response to the US Secretary's remarks, the Russian representative at the Security Council dismissed Western concerns and accused Western countries of attempting to 'demonize Russia.' Simultaneously, the Russian representative claimed that if Russia's demands were met, they would join the Black Sea grain export agreement. The United Nations Security Council unanimously called for respect for international humanitarian law and unconditional access to aid for those in need. The Council also emphasized the need to 'break the vicious cycle' between armed conflicts and food insecurity. In a previous Security Council session, Russia, under pressure from China, developing countries, and Western nations to prevent a 'global food crisis' and restart Ukrainian grain exports, found itself in an international bind and announced that it would rejoin the agreement if 'specific conditions' were met. Earlier, the UN and Security Council members blamed Russia for exiting the 'grain export agreement' in the Black Sea and 'preventing food shipments,' and severely criticized it for 'attacking Ukrainian ports,' 'violating international laws,' and 'targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.'