Western media has been relentless in its pursuit of convincing its populaces that Russia is losing the war in Ukraine. This includes the constant chatter that there will be a coup any day. They have even claimed that Putin is dying of cancer. While the rumor mill continues to spew unfounded reports of the Russian President’s demise, Russia continues to gain ground as well as taking hold of the most important commodity of all – food.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen claims Russia is weaponizing food supplies as prices of grain, cooking oil, and other food commodities continue to rise exponentially after the Russian army invaded Ukraine. Both Ukraine and Russia are the world’s largest wheat producers.
“In Russian-occupied Ukraine, the Kremlin’s army is confiscating grain stocks and machinery…. And Russian warships in the Black Sea are blockading Ukrainian ships full of wheat and sunflower seeds,” von der Leyen said in an address at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on May 24.
“Russia is now hoarding its own food exports as a form of blackmail — holding back supplies to increase global prices, or trading wheat in exchange for political support…. This is using hunger and grain to wield power.”
Both Russia and Ukraine are competitors in the wheat market. Not only is Russia holding back its exports from unfriendly countries it has taken control of much of Ukraine’s wheat production areas. It is also blockading the rest of the exports held at the port of Odessa. The result is the soaring food prices in Europe and around the world.
While most of the West has been focusing on building hi-tech economies, Russia has been focusing on the real drivers in the global economy – energy and food. This has revealed just how weak the Weak’s underbelly truly is.