# EU calls for Russia dialogue to unlock Ukraine food exports Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-05-24 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: European Commission Urges Moscow for Wheat Export Talks Meta Description: European Commission chief calls for talks with Russia to release trapped wheat in Ukraine amid global food crisis. Find out more. URL: https://financedigest.com/eu-calls-for-russia-dialogue-to-unlock-ukraine-food-exportshtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-05-24t142427z2lynxnpei4n0partroptp4davos-meeting-von-der-leyen-1736815687605-compressed.jpg) By Sabine Siebold DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday called for talks with Moscow on unlocking wheat exports that are trapped in Ukraine as a result of a Russian sea blockade. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week accused [Russia of using food as a weapon by holding “hostage” supplies](https://www.financedigest.com/exclusive-kazakh-mcdonalds-shut-outlets-temporarily-after-halting-supplies-from-russia-sources.html "Exclusive-Kazakh McDonald’s shut outlets temporarily after halting supplies from Russia – sources") for not just Ukrainians, but also millions of people around the world. Moscow rejects this allegation. The most important (thing) is to deblock the [Black Sea](https://www.financedigest.com/kremlin-remains-downbeat-on-state-of-black-sea-grain-deal.html "Kremlin remains downbeat on state of Black Sea grain deal"). This is a call on Russia,” [von der Leyen](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-will-propose-windfall-levies-on-energy-firms-von-der-leyen-says.html "EU will propose windfall levies on energy firms, von der Leyen says") told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. Von der Leyen, who is president of the [European Union’s](https://www.financedigest.com/explainer-why-malaysia-is-considering-a-ban-on-palm-oil-exports-to-the-european-union.html "Explainer-Why Malaysia is considering a ban on palm oil exports to the European Union") executive, said a food crisis was approaching at full speed and some sort of dialogue with Moscow was needed to unlock 20 million tons of wheat stuck in Ukraine. “It cannot be in Russia’s interest that, because of Russia, people are dying of hunger in the world,” she said, adding that a solution to create food corridors needed to be found. I think we should first of all look at the dialogue with Russia, whether there is not an agreement that this wheat gets out of Ukraine”, the [European Commission head](https://www.financedigest.com/liberty-appoints-new-european-global-financial-risks-head.html "Liberty Appoints New European Global Financial Risks Head") said. [Russia and Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-action-wanes-at-u-n-to-isolate-russia-almost-six-months-into-ukraine-war.html "Analysis: Action wanes at U.N. to isolate Russia almost six months into Ukraine war") together account for nearly a third of global wheat supplies, while Ukraine is also a major exporter of corn, barley, sunflower oil and rapeseed oil. Meanwhile, Russia and Belarus, which has [backed Moscow’s “special military operation”](https://www.financedigest.com/ubisoft-vows-to-get-back-to-operating-margin-above-20-in-medium-term.html "Ubisoft vows to get back to operating margin above 20% in medium term") in Ukraine, account for more than 40% of global exports of potash, a key crop nutrient. Von der Leyen said the European Union should also step up its own production, making it easier for [farmers to have a second crop or to increase wheat production](https://www.financedigest.com/end-of-cheap-money-for-u-s-farmers-plows-trouble-into-food-production.html "End of cheap money for U.S. farmers plows trouble into food production"). RECONSTRUCTION Ukraine is top of the [agenda at this year’s gathering](https://www.financedigest.com/flu-experts-gather-with-h5n1-risk-on-the-agenda.html "Flu experts gather with H5N1 risk on the agenda") of more than 2,000 business and political leaders, NGOs and academics, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy holding the de facto opening speech. By contrast, no Russian [companies or state institutions have been invited to the annual event](https://www.financedigest.com/incentive-fm-group-wins-contract-with-global-events-company.html "Incentive Fm Group Wins Contract With Global Events Company") in the Swiss Alpine resort. With regard to the funding of Ukraine’s reconstruction after the war, the EU is considering making use of frozen Russian central [bank and oligarchs’ funds](https://www.financedigest.com/bank-funding-for-renewables-stagnates-vs-oil-and-gas-report.html "Bank funding for renewables stagnates vs oil and gas – report"), von der Leyen said. “The basic feeling of fairness tells us we should look and we do look into that,” she said. The Baltic states have been calling for the confiscation of Russian assets, including central [bank reserves of $300 billion](https://www.financedigest.com/first-abu-dhabi-bank-could-renew-35-billion-offer-for-stanchart-bloomberg-news.html "First Abu Dhabi Bank could renew billion offer for StanChart -Bloomberg News"), but it is unclear if this would be legal for the EU to do. On May 3, Ukraine estimated the [cost of reconstruction at $600 billion](https://www.financedigest.com/australias-nuclear-submarine-plan-to-cost-up-to-245-billion-by-2055-defence-official.html "Australia’s nuclear submarine plan to cost up to 5 billion by 2055 -defence official"). It is not trivial but…the destruction of [Ukraine was done by Russia’s completely unjustified war](https://www.financedigest.com/euro-zone-economy-sentiment-rises-in-dec-first-time-since-start-of-ukraine-war.html "Euro zone economy sentiment rises in Dec, first time since start of Ukraine war"), and therefore, if the whole world steps up to reconstruct Ukraine, Russia should also carry its fair share,” she added. Von der Leyen did not want to comment on what conditions would constitute a sufficient basis for [Ukraine to accept an agreement about an end of the war](https://www.financedigest.com/ukraine-grants-citizenship-to-top-russian-journalist-who-denounced-war.html "Ukraine grants citizenship to top Russian journalist who denounced war"). There is one important principle: It is [Ukraine that defines and decides what they conceive as – this is for us the end of the war](https://www.financedigest.com/ukraine-seeks-debt-payment-freeze-as-war-ravages-economy.html "Ukraine seeks debt payment freeze as war ravages economy"), this is acceptable. It is Ukraine, that decides on that,” she said. (Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Bart Meijer, Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten and Alexander Smith) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---