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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Ukraine war: Russia denies causing global food crisis | Ukraine war: Russia denies causing global food crisis |
| (3 months later) | |
| Mr Lavrov spoke with the head of the Arab League | Mr Lavrov spoke with the head of the Arab League |
| Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, on a diplomatic offensive in Egypt, has dismissed claims that Moscow caused the global food crisis. | Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, on a diplomatic offensive in Egypt, has dismissed claims that Moscow caused the global food crisis. |
| In a speech to Arab League ambassadors in Cairo, he said Western nations were distorting the truth about the impact of sanctions on global food security. | In a speech to Arab League ambassadors in Cairo, he said Western nations were distorting the truth about the impact of sanctions on global food security. |
| He accused Western nations of trying to impose their dominance over others. | He accused Western nations of trying to impose their dominance over others. |
| Much of the Arab world and Africa is badly affected by grain shortages caused by Russia's war in Ukraine. | Much of the Arab world and Africa is badly affected by grain shortages caused by Russia's war in Ukraine. |
| A landmark deal signed on Friday to resume Ukraine's grain exports hangs in the balance after Russia attacked targets in the port of Odesa on Saturday. | A landmark deal signed on Friday to resume Ukraine's grain exports hangs in the balance after Russia attacked targets in the port of Odesa on Saturday. |
| Mr Lavrov will go on to visit three African nations to rally support amid anger over the war. | Mr Lavrov will go on to visit three African nations to rally support amid anger over the war. |
| Life on the front-line of severe food shortages | Life on the front-line of severe food shortages |
| Mr Lavrov said that Western nations' "aggressiveness" in imposing sanctions on Russia indicated one simple conclusion: "It is not about Ukraine, it is about the future of the world order. | Mr Lavrov said that Western nations' "aggressiveness" in imposing sanctions on Russia indicated one simple conclusion: "It is not about Ukraine, it is about the future of the world order. |
| "They say everybody must support a rules-based world order, and the rules are written depending on what specific situation the West wants to resolve in its own favour." | "They say everybody must support a rules-based world order, and the rules are written depending on what specific situation the West wants to resolve in its own favour." |
| Earlier, Mr Lavrov held talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry. | Earlier, Mr Lavrov held talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry. |
| Egypt has significant ties with Russia, which supplies wheat, weapons and - until the invasion of Ukraine began - large numbers of tourists. | Egypt has significant ties with Russia, which supplies wheat, weapons and - until the invasion of Ukraine began - large numbers of tourists. |
| After his talks with Mr Shoukry, Mr Lavrov told a joint news conference that the West was prolonging the conflict even though it understood "what and whose end it will be". | After his talks with Mr Shoukry, Mr Lavrov told a joint news conference that the West was prolonging the conflict even though it understood "what and whose end it will be". |
| It is the first stage for Mr Lavrov of a brief tour of Africa taking in Ethiopia, Uganda and Congo-Brazzaville. | It is the first stage for Mr Lavrov of a brief tour of Africa taking in Ethiopia, Uganda and Congo-Brazzaville. |
| In an article published by local newspapers in the run-up to his tour, Mr Lavrov said his country had always "sincerely supported Africans in their struggle for freedom from the colonial yoke". | In an article published by local newspapers in the run-up to his tour, Mr Lavrov said his country had always "sincerely supported Africans in their struggle for freedom from the colonial yoke". |
| He added that Russia appreciated Africans' "balanced position" on the issue of Ukraine. | He added that Russia appreciated Africans' "balanced position" on the issue of Ukraine. |
| How much grain is stuck in Ukraine? | How much grain is stuck in Ukraine? |
| Ukraine and Russia usually supply more than 40% of Africa's wheat, the African Development Bank says. | Ukraine and Russia usually supply more than 40% of Africa's wheat, the African Development Bank says. |
| Egypt is normally a big consumer of Ukrainian wheat. In 2019, it imported 3.62 million tonnes of it, more than any country. | Egypt is normally a big consumer of Ukrainian wheat. In 2019, it imported 3.62 million tonnes of it, more than any country. |
| But in his article, Mr Lavrov rejected the accusation that Russia was "exporting famine" and blamed it on Western propaganda. | But in his article, Mr Lavrov rejected the accusation that Russia was "exporting famine" and blamed it on Western propaganda. |
| He added that Western sanctions imposed on Russia had exacerbated "negative tendencies" in the international food market that stemmed from the coronavirus pandemic. | He added that Western sanctions imposed on Russia had exacerbated "negative tendencies" in the international food market that stemmed from the coronavirus pandemic. |
| Taking advantage of a reluctance to take sides | Taking advantage of a reluctance to take sides |
| By Will Ross, Africa regional editor, BBC World Service | By Will Ross, Africa regional editor, BBC World Service |
| Sergei Lavrov is trying to convince African countries that they are better off siding with Russia than the West - using phrases like "we'll help you complete the process of decolonisation". | Sergei Lavrov is trying to convince African countries that they are better off siding with Russia than the West - using phrases like "we'll help you complete the process of decolonisation". |
| But it is clear across much of the continent that there is a reluctance to take sides over the war in Ukraine. The Cold War had a devastating impact, fuelling conflicts in Africa and halting development. | But it is clear across much of the continent that there is a reluctance to take sides over the war in Ukraine. The Cold War had a devastating impact, fuelling conflicts in Africa and halting development. |
| Right now, of greatest concern is the spiralling cost of food and fuel. More than 40% of Africa's wheat comes from Russia and Ukraine. | Right now, of greatest concern is the spiralling cost of food and fuel. More than 40% of Africa's wheat comes from Russia and Ukraine. |
| Some African leaders will be aware that when people cannot afford to eat, their own positions in power are less secure. | Some African leaders will be aware that when people cannot afford to eat, their own positions in power are less secure. |
| Watch: Sergei Lavrov speaks exclusively to the BBC about the war in Ukraine | Watch: Sergei Lavrov speaks exclusively to the BBC about the war in Ukraine |
| Watch: Sergei Lavrov speaks exclusively to the BBC about the war in Ukraine | Watch: Sergei Lavrov speaks exclusively to the BBC about the war in Ukraine |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Middle East | |
| Russia-Ukraine war | Russia-Ukraine war |
| Egypt | Egypt |
| Sergei Lavrov | Sergei Lavrov |
| Russia | Russia |
| Africa | |
| Ukraine | Ukraine |