Ben Wallace also called on the country to allow Ukraine to export its grain.
Commenting by Reuters, Wallace told reporters in Madrid that the Russian army was “exhausted and defeated”, but warned that the Russian navy would be a “greater threat” in the future.
Russia also needs to “do the right thing” and open a grain corridor from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, he told reporters in Madrid as he met with Spanish counterpart Margarita Robles at a conference.
Russian authorities have said they would be ready to provide a corridor for food carriers to leave Ukraine in exchange for lifting some sanctions.
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Mr Wallace rejected the idea of lifting sanctions, but welcomed a proposal by Black Sea countries, such as Turkey, to escort grain shipments to Ukraine after Moscow ruled out Western involvement.
Mr Wallace rejected the idea of lifting the sanctions
/ AFP via Getty Images
“This grain is for everyone, Libya, Yemen, people around the world rely on this grain to eat,” he said.
“I call on Russia to do the right thing in the spirit of humanity and to release the grain to Ukraine, to stop stealing the grain at its own expense. Not to mention sanctions, let’s do the right thing. “
Ukraine’s Black Sea ports have been blocked since Russia sent thousands of troops to Ukraine on February 24th, and more than 20 million tonnes of grain are stranded in the country’s silos.
The British Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday that the lack of shipping from Odessa since the start of the war and Russia’s naval blockade of Black Sea ports is likely to raise prices for basic foodstuffs.
“The fight has already put indirect pressure on world grain prices,” said an intelligence update.
“While the threat of a naval blockade of Russia continues to block the access of merchant ships to Ukrainian ports, the resulting shortage of supplies will further increase the price of many basic products.
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