Press release

PM to tell G7 leaders: we must end Putin's stranglehold on food prices

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will call on world leaders to take urgent action to get essential food supplies out of Ukraine at the G7 Summit.

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government
  • Putin鈥檚 blockade is driving up international food prices, depriving the Ukrainian people of essential income and placing millions on the brink of starvation
  • UK working with partners on a plan to overcome the Russian stranglehold and will work with Ukraine to repair vital railways
  • Government also working on other measures to increase the global food supply and keep costs down for households everywhere

皇冠体育app Prime Minister will call on world leaders to take urgent action to get essential food supplies out of Ukraine at the G7 Summit today (Monday).

皇冠体育app Russian blockade of major Ukrainian ports such as Odesa, attacks on farms and warehouses, as well as other huge structural issues caused by the Russian invasion, have prevented Ukrainian food from reaching the global market.

Ukraine is the 鈥榖readbasket of Europe鈥�, supplying 10% of the world鈥檚 wheat, 12-17% of the world鈥檚 maize and half of the world鈥檚 sunflower oil. 25 million tonnes of corn and wheat 鈥� the entire annual consumption of all the least developed countries 鈥� can鈥檛 be exported and is currently at risk of rotting in Ukrainian silos. This problem is due to worsen dramatically with July鈥檚 harvest.

Russia鈥檚 actions have driven up prices in countries like the UK and, while the UK is not directly dependent on Ukrainian grain exports, the ongoing blockade has placed 47 million people around the world on the brink of humanitarian disaster.

Addressing the G7, the Prime Minister will emphasise that this crisis 鈥� which has far-reaching global consequences 鈥� requires an internationally-coordinated solution.

To support Ukrainian efforts to find and develop routes out of the country the UK is offering expertise to create a safe passage for commercial vessels. We are working with Ukraine, the UN and other international partners to find solutions to frustrate the Russian stranglehold, which can then be implemented by Ukraine and its international supporters.

Last week the Foreign and Defence Secretaries travelled to T眉rkiye for discussions with the Turkish Government on opening maritime export routes.

In addition to preventing grain from leaving Ukraine via the Black Sea 鈥� the route by which 96% of Ukraine鈥檚 grain has historically been exported, Russian attacks are disrupting rail exports.

To counteract this, the UK is contributing up to 拢10 million in materials and equipment to Ukraine Railways to repair rail infrastructure and help get grain out of the country by rail. 皇冠体育app UK is in close discussion with the Government of Ukraine about how to maximise their rail capacity and keep both trains and grain moving.

皇冠体育app Prime Minister will tell G7 leaders today:

Putin鈥檚 actions in Ukraine are creating terrible aftershocks across the world, driving up energy and food prices as millions of people are on the brink of famine.

Only Putin can end this needless and futile war. But global leaders need to come together and apply their combined economic and political heft to help Ukraine and make life easier for households across the world. Nothing should be off the table.

Not only is Russia preventing Ukraine from exporting its grain, there is increasing evidence that Russia is stealing grain from Ukraine, smuggling it over the border to sell and boost Putin鈥檚 war coffers.

皇冠体育app UK will put 拢1.5 million to develop a testing process to identify whether grain sold by Russia on the world market has been illegally taken from Ukraine. This would allow world governments to tackle the scourge of stolen grain, deterring Russian activity and ensuring Ukraine is getting the revenue it so desperately needs from any grain it grows. 皇冠体育app PM will ask other G7 countries to join these efforts today.

Last week at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting the Prime Minister announced an additional 拢372 million for countries most impacted by rising global food prices.

He also encouraged G7 leaders to look at their demands on land and use of biofuel 鈥� globally, the use of grain for biofuel is contributing to reduced availability and increased costs for human consumption. That is something the Prime Minister will be raising at the G7 today.

Updates to this page

Published 26 June 2022