UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a stark warning regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent actions, accusing him of undermining food security globally, particularly in Gaza. British intelligence has indicated that Russia has intensified attacks on Ukrainian ports, with Starmer asserting that Putin is “willing to gamble on global food security.”
Starmer highlighted that multiple grain ships headed for developing nations have been damaged due to these Russian strikes. An intelligence report released by the UK government revealed that between October 5 and October 14, at least four merchant vessels were struck by Russian munitions. Among the affected was a ship carrying vegetable oil intended for the World Food Programme in Palestine, which faced delays.
The Prime Minister noted, “Russia’s indiscriminate strikes on ports in the Black Sea underscore that Putin is willing to gamble on global food security in his attempts to force Ukraine into submission. In doing so, he is harming millions of vulnerable people across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, to try and gain the upper hand in his barbaric war.”
This week, Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner were urged by British-Palestinian families to establish evacuation and resettlement programs and to take firmer action against Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza. Health officials in northern Gaza have warned that medical supplies are running critically low amid ongoing Israeli offensives.
Families called for a British presence at Gaza’s border crossings to ensure quicker inspections and an unrestricted flow of aid. While Israel claims that aid has increased since a leaked US letter earlier this month warned of restricted arms supplies unless 300 aid trucks entered Gaza each day, the United Nations reported that aid shipments were at their lowest in months by mid-October.
The Biden administration has expressed concern over delays to US-funded aid entering Gaza, noting a drop of over 50% in the supply flow since March, when Israel had pledged to facilitate more deliveries.
In a related development, the UK government announced a £2.26 billion loan to Ukraine, funded by interest from sanctioned Russian sovereign assets, as part of a commitment made during the G7 summit in June.
Starmer emphasized that these Russian strikes are occurring during Ukraine’s critical harvest season. He pointed out that Ukraine’s food and grain exports, primarily via the Black Sea, had nearly returned to pre-war levels this year, thanks to a newly established shipping corridor and successful drone attacks on the Russian fleet.
Before the conflict, Ukraine ranked as the world’s seventh largest wheat exporter, prominently serving markets in the Middle East, while also being a significant producer of sunflower oil and other essential food items. However, Russia has consistently attempted to impose a maritime blockade on Ukraine’s economy.
Starmer denounced Russia’s actions, stating, “Russia has no respect for the norms and laws that govern our international system. Not only was their illegal invasion a blatant attack on the principles of the UN charter, but the manner in which they have conducted their warfare shows a complete disregard for human life and the global repercussions of their invasion.”
Additionally, the UK government has announced plans for a British factory to begin producing artillery barrels for Ukraine by 2027, in collaboration with Germany’s Rheinmetall. This initiative will utilize British steel and is expected to create 400 jobs, marking the first domestic production of artillery barrels in a decade.
