Rome – Wadephul calls for international pressure on Russia over Ukrainian grain

ROME, 2 October /ATSH-DPA/ — German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called today on the countries of the world to exert more pressure on Russia to end the blockage of Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea. Wadephul made the call after meetings he held at the Vatican. “We must ensure, first, that Europe speaks out more strongly on this issue and, second, that the countries of the Global South also express their interests more clearly,” he said. The Global South includes countries of Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. “I believe there is then a real possibility of still reaching a solution,” Wadephul said. He warned that time is running out and that there is a risk of famine. According to him, the grain risks spoiling if it remains blocked, which would cause another unnecessary crisis.

The German minister has repeatedly warned that there could be food shortages and famine in Africa and Latin America if Russia does not end the blockage of Ukrainian grain. Wadephul spoke about this issue after separate meetings with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who is the Vatican’s second-highest official, and with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states, who deals with the Vatican’s foreign policy. Gallagher said he supports efforts to end the blockage of Ukrainian grain and that he will continue to raise this issue in his talks, including talks with Russia. At the end of August, Gallagher called on Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to hold genuine negotiations to find a solution, with the support of other countries.

Wadephul also discussed the risk of famine with Lavrov during the meeting they held last week in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. That meeting, however, brought no concrete result. This week, Pope Leo XIV again called for renewed international efforts to start negotiations aimed at ending the war. The Vatican has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but at the same time has sought to keep talks with Moscow open.

Ukraine is an important grain-producing and exporting country. Much of the grain is transported by ship through the Black Sea to other countries. Because of the war and Russian restrictions in the Black Sea, the export of Ukrainian grain has been made difficult or blocked at various periods.