The Kremlin will use any tactic to emerge victorious, even pushing much of Africa into mass starvation
It is often said that “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”. That maxim is about to be put to the test in the Black Sea. Following Russia’s shock withdrawal this week from the deal brokered in July 2022 by the UN and Turkey guaranteeing safe passage for grain exports, sudden and deliberate Russian missile attacks on Ukraine’s southern coast have destroyed 60,000 tonnes of grain and damaged vital storage infrastructure.
This is a criminal act, threatening starvation in African countries and higher food prices around the world. Yet the West seems to be shrugging its shoulders, implying “there’s nothing we can do” without the danger of escalation. If we accept this, then we risk all the progress Western powers have made in undermining Putin.
For months, I have talked about the dangers of Moscow waging “unconventional warfare” – whether going nuclear via blowing up the Zaporizhzhia power plant, or attacking chemical facilities, or, indeed, food supplies. The eventual attention given to the nuclear threat arguably deterred Moscow on the first two risks for now, but on the latter Nato and the UN were complacent, assuming Russia would not withdraw from a deal giving them access to top-table discussions with world leaders. That neglect has now come at a heavy price.
If Putin is waging a vicious campaign to try to bring famine to Africa – one he can still try to blame on Western sanctions – it would mark yet another horrific war crime to add to the growing list.