Russia Blocks 94 Ships From Leaving Ukraine, Spurs Global Food Crisis

Russia is creating a global food crisis by blocking 94 ships with food from leaving Ukrainian ports, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said at a UN meeting on global food security while Russia blames western sanctions on global rising food prices, Kyiv Independent reported. Sherman said the Russian navy is blocking crucial grain exports from reaching the world.

Photo Insert: Haven van Cherson, Ukraine

In reaction to this, the US is preparing new round of sanctions against Russia. Deputy US Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo revealed the sanctions will target the supply chains for the Russian military and undermine the country’s defense industry, which is already reeling from the absence of spare parts for tanks and advanced electronics technology for the guidance systems of its missiles, drones, and warplanes.

Ukraine is seeking stronger security guarantees than NATO’s Article 5, David Arakhamia, the leader of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s faction in the parliament and head of the Ukrainian delegation during the ongoing peace negotiations with Russia, said on March 29.

Arakhamia spoke following peace talks with Russia held in Istanbul earlier that day. Russia itself did not pin much hope on the talks.

In Kyiv, Ukraine’s military claimed that more than 17,200 Russian troops have been killed since Feb. 24. Also destroyed were the following: 1,710 Russian armored personnel carriers (APCs); 597 tanks; 1,178 vehicles; 303 artillery pieces; 54 anti-aircraft warfare systems; 96 launch rocket systems; 127 planes; 129 helicopters; 73 fuel tanks; 21 pieces of special equipment; 71 UAVs, and; seven boats.

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