REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton 2/3By Michelle NicholsUNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia on Thursday of using food as a weapon in Ukraine by holding "hostage" supplies for not just Ukrainians, but also millions around the world. "The food supply for millions of Ukrainians and millions more around the world has quite literally been held hostage." Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, dismissed as "absolutely false" any suggestion that Russia was to blame for a global food crisis that had been brewing for several years. "Some 20 million tons of grain sit unused in Ukrainian silos as global food supply dwindle (and) prices skyrocket." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is trying to broker a deal allowing Ukraine to resume food exports and revive Russian food and fertilizer production to world markets.

Source: Washington Post May 19, 2022 19:12 UTC