Earlier this week, the Russian Ambassador to the United Nations National Security Council Vassily Nebenzia walked out of an “address on peace and security in Ukraine” by European Council President Charles Michel. “You may leave the room. Maybe it’s easier not to listen to the truth, ambassador,” the top EU official smugly retorted. But was Michel actually telling the truth in his prepared remarks?
The specific comments widely portrayed by the press as having sparked Nebenzia’s walkout blamed Russia for a looming global hunger. “Russia is solely responsible for this food crisis, Russia alone. Despite the Kremlin’s campaign of lies and disinformation. I have seen it with my own eyes. A few weeks ago in Odessa, millions of tons of grain and wheat stuck in containers and ships because of Russian warships in the Black Sea and because of Russia’s attack on transport infrastructure,” Michel said.
This assertion is contradicted by the presence of Russian ships reportedly seeking buyers for Ukrainian grain. Ukraine and its Western allies are accusing Russia of “stealing” the grain. Moscow rebuffs the accusations and claims that Kiev is obstructing shipments, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov saying: “In order for it to leave the ports, Mr. [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky must give the order, that’s all.”