Rishi Sunak has said global leaders must make it clear that Vladimir Putin has further increased Russia’s global isolation, after the warmongering leader withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
The PM will tell fellow leaders at the G20 in India they have to help protect those whose lives have been devastated by Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine, including those hurting from the rapid increase in food price inflation.
The UK is now set to host an international food security summit later this year to help coordinate help and support for those affected.
The call for action comes as the Russian leader is set to dodge his second G20 meeting in a row.
Downing Street said that families both in Ukraine and around the world continue to suffer after Putin manipulated global energy prices, displaced 11 million Ukrainians and made daily life more difficult for households around the planet.
President Putin withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July after one year.
The deal originally allowed ships carrying Ukrainian grain – once the breadbasket of Europe – to transit from Black Sea ports without fear of attack.
The deal was a “lifeline for millions” around the world, and enabled 33 million tonnes of food to reach 45 countries.
Downing Street slammed Putin’s withdrawal, saying his decision to rip up the initiative has “reduced global grain supply at a critical time for vulnerable people – when prices rise, the poorest pay”.
Speaking ahead of the Indian summit, Mr Sunak says Putin “is the architect of his own diplomatic exile”.
“Isolating himself in his presidential palace and blocking out criticism and reality.
“The rest of the G20, meanwhile, are demonstrating that we will turn up and work together to pick up the pieces of Putin’s destruction.
“That starts with dealing with the terrible global consequences of Putin’s stranglehold over the most fundamental resources, including his blockade of and attacks on Ukrainian grain.”
The food security summit later this year, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, will bring together world leaders, international organisations, NGOs, researchers are private sector companies to tackle the causes of food insecurity and malnutrition.
Downing Street says the UK will use its “intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to monitor Russian activity in the Black Sea”, as well as “call out Russia” if it sees warning signs they are preparing attacks on civilian shipping or infrastructure.
There will also be a mission to prevent claims of ‘false flag attacks’, which Russia uses to deflect blame away from themselves.
RAF aircraft will conduct flights over the area to deter Russia from carrying out illegal strikes against civilian vessels transporting grain, which Russia now treat as military vessels.
The UK will also contribute £3 million in funding for the World Food Programme, to continue work started under President Zelensky’s ‘Grain from Ukraine’ initiative.
