Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday called on Southeast Asian countries to take all possible measures to prevent Russia from playing the “hunger games,” citing an agreement on Ukrainian grain exports that could expire next week, Reuters reported.

A deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July to allow food and fertilizer exports from several Ukrainian Black Sea ports could expire on November 19 if Russia or Ukraine object to its extension.

Speaking at a news conference in Cambodia on the sidelines of an ASEAN summit, Dmytro Kuleba said Russia’s hold on the deal was not enough and steps should be taken to ensure its inspectors were not deliberately delaying supplies, driving up world prices.

“It is not enough to simply keep Russia on board. It is also important to ensure that Russian inspectors participating in this initiative act in good faith and inspect vessels without artificial delays,” he said, adding that countries in Africa and Asia are suffering.

“I call on all ASEAN members to take all possible measures so that Russia does not play hunger games with the world,” Kuleba insisted.

Tens of millions of people doomed to starve to death

According to UN data, more than 10 million tons of grain and other foodstuffs were exported from Ukraine under the relevant agreement. The UN warns that Russia’s war is exacerbating the global food crisis, condemning tens of millions of people to starvation.

For the first time, Ukraine joined the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the parallel summit in East Asia. Among those present are the leaders of the USA, Japan, South Korea and Australia, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov.

Kuleba noted that Lavrov did not demand a meeting with him on the sidelines of the summit, in accordance with diplomatic customs.

“If he does this, we will carefully consider his request,” the Ukrainian minister said, adding that Russia should approach all negotiations in good faith.

“There is no indication that Russia is genuinely interested in negotiations,” he said.

“I sat down at the table for a good picture, I was there, I did it, I tried,” continued Kuleba regarding negotiations with the Russian side in the past.

Kuleba’s call

The head of Ukrainian diplomacy also said that during meetings with the leaders of Southeast Asian countries, he discussed the ways in which they can support Ukraine, and told them that expressing neutrality and not condemning Russia is against their interests.

“The worst thing a country can do is to do nothing,” said the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

In a separate statement, Dmytro Kuleba said that “the war continues” after his country’s success a day ago in recapturing the city of Kherson (south) from the Russian army, reports AFP.

Ukraine’s national anthem played again in Kherson after Moscow on Friday withdrew its troops from the city, which was the first to fall after Vladimir Putin ordered his army to invade Ukraine in February.

The struggle continues

Speaking on the sidelines of the Southeast Asia Summit in Cambodia, Kuleba said the struggle for his country’s liberation continues.

“We will win battles on the field. But the war continues,” he said in Phnom Penh during a bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the summit.

“I understand that everyone wants this war to end as soon as possible. Of course, we want it more than anyone,” said Kuleba.

“But as long as the war continues and we see Russia mobilizing more recruits and bringing more weapons to Ukraine, we will of course continue to count on your continued support,” he said.

In October, Australia promised Ukraine 30 additional Bushmaster armored vehicles and sent 70 Australian servicemen to train the Ukrainian military in Britain.

For his part, the Prime Minister of Australia condemned “the targeting of the peaceful Ukrainian population by Vladimir Putin’s troops.” (Source Agerpres)

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