Republican senators warn that Russia is using food manipulation as a weapon in its deadly invasion of Ukraine and is working with Ukrainian leaders to draw attention to the worsening global food security crisis. During a roundtable at the US Capitol on Wednesday, Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan, sat down with several Ukrainian civil society leaders to discuss the impact of the war. Russia-Ukraine in the global food supply chain. Republican senators, both from wealthy agricultural states, worry about the recent rise in food and gas prices that could wreak havoc on the U.S. and the rest of the world, which is highly connected to the food trade. . RUSSIA INVASES UKRAINE: LIVE UPDATES Senators Joni Ernst and Roger Marshall are working with Ukrainian leaders to draw attention to the worsening global food security crisis. (Kelly Laco / Fox News Digital) (Fox News) Marshall called the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped boost food prices due to higher demand and fewer workers available, in addition to the ongoing war in Ukraine, a “perfect storm” of agricultural issues. “Senator Ernst and I are here today to warn everyone that there is food insecurity today, there may be famine tomorrow. In fact, I think the stage is set for another possible Arab Spring,” Marshall said. “Right now, Ukrainian farmers should be planning on corn, sunflowers and soybeans, but instead they should be turning their plows into weapons.” Ernst criticized Russia for using food as a “quiet weapon” to starve civilians and force Ukraine to surrender to its army. US GOVERNOR ACKNOWLEDGES FAILURE OF BIDEN STRATEGIC PREVENTION IN UKRAINE “This is a food security crisis,” Ernst said. “The best and fastest way to deal with the food security crisis is for Ukraine to win the war. This is absolutely necessary, and they can win, and I know they can win.” Ukraine, known as the “bread basket” of the world, is one of the largest producers of wheat, sunflower oil, honey and other commodities. According to senators, about 400 million people, including in Africa and the Middle East, depend on Ukraine and Russia for food. Daria Kalenyuk, co-founder and executive director of the Center for Action against Corruption, told reporters that her grandmother, who remains in Ukraine, is storing potatoes to avoid starvation in the midst of the Russian invasion. Senators Joni Ernst and Roger Marshall host a round table on the global food security crisis. (Kelly Laco / Fox News Digital) (Fox News) “Hunger is a tool used by Russia,” he said. Maria Berliska, a Ukrainian military volunteer and women’s rights activist, said Russian propaganda was an attack on “our democracies, our free people.” Berliska, who recently lost her brother in Ukraine to a Russian attack, said Russia was carrying out a “total genocide” of Ukrainians. It urges the United States to send more defense weapons to Ukraine to help its military counterattack against the Russians. Maria Berliska, a Ukrainian military volunteer and women’s rights activist, said Russian propaganda was an attack on “our democracies, our free people.” (Kelly Laco / Fox News Digital) (Fox News) Dr. Hanna Hopko, a former member of the Ukrainian parliament, expressed optimism that “victory is coming to Ukraine” because this is the only solution to the food shortage. CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION He said farmers in the country are finding it difficult to produce food because they continue to be forced to pull out weapons, mines and other military equipment that fall into their fields. The farmer can only plant about 70% of the normal amount of crops this spring, he said. “We need action, action now,” Hopko said. Fox News’ Kelly Phares contributed to this report.
