Washington, US (PANA) - US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on Tuesday spoke with African Union Commission Chairperson (AUC) Moussa Faki Mahamat on the importance of ending Russia’s war on Ukraine and its effects on global food insecurity.
A statement from the Office of the Spokesperson of the US Secretary of State said Mr. Blinken underscored that U.S. sanctions do not prevent the export of Ukrainian or Russian agricultural commodities, including food and fertilizer.
These sanctions do not also prevent transactions that are necessary for these exports, such as banking or shipping.
"The Secretary emphasised the need for safe passage of all commercial vessels to and from Ukraine's Black Sea ports," the statement said.
The Russian invasion has led to shortage of food, especially grains, as well as fertilizer, which is affecting agriculture.
The current African Union chairman, Senegalese President Macky Sall visited Russia last week for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin for talks on the effects of the war on African countries.
The Senegalese President said President Putin told him that he was ready to enable the export of Ukrainian grain to ease a global food crisis that is hitting Africa especially hard.
"President #Putin has expressed to us his willingness to facilitate the export of Ukrainian cereals," President Sall wrote on Twitter after meeting Putin in his role as chairman of the African Union.
-0- PANA MA 8June2022
