Russian blockades and bombing attacks to blame for global food insecurity, says G7 leaders

Russia is exacerbating food insecurity with its blockades and bombing attacks on key infrastructure in Ukraine, according to a statement released by the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) major economies on Friday.

The ministers called on Moscow "to cease its attacks and threatening actions and un-block the Ukrainian Black Sea ports for food exports".

Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine on February 24, seizing several cities and forcing millions of Ukrainian to flee their homes. The invasion has caused serious disruption to global supply chains, as Russia and Ukraine are major exporters of wheat and other products. 

Also on Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia's war against Ukraine, not Western sanctions, will add another 40 or 50 million more people to the ranks of the hungry. 

"There is no reason other than Russia's blockade of Ukraine and Russia's refusal in many cases to export its own grain for political reasons," said Blinken at a joint news conference with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

Baerbock said international partners were working together to counter Russia's "cynical" and potentially destabilizing grains war and the corresponding propaganda.