Rome, March 8, 2022
The United States welcomes today’s briefing on Ukraine and appreciates Executive Director Beasley’s recent visit. We will continue to support your efforts to mitigate the effects of this unnecessary and destructive war.
The United States is gravely concerned about the situation in Ukraine. Russia’s attack on Ukraine was unprovoked and unjustified.
President Putin’s premeditated invasion is bringing about loss of life and human suffering, and Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack is bringing.
As has been briefed today, it is essential that all parties allow and facilitate the rapid, safe, and unhindered access of humanitarian assistance to those in need in Ukraine and protect civilians, including those who are humanitarian personnel and persons in vulnerable situations.
We urge all present to head off a further deterioration of the situation. We commend the amazing job WFP and FAO are doing on the ground.
We are concerned the interruptions to the flow of grain and sunflower oil from this region is already driving up record-high food prices, exacerbating already significant global food inflation that affects the world’s most vulnerable.
It is unconscionable a UN member state is perpetrating this global crisis, and we call on all the Rome-based agencies, in particular FAO and WFP with their on the ground activities, to be public and vocal in their calls for this invasion to stop as they continue to mitigate the global food security impacts of this crisis.
