Many of the world’s poorest countries rely on Ukrainian wheat because they lack the funds to purchase American wheat. Ethiopia, Somalia, South and North Sudan, and to a lesser extent, Egypt and India. Perhaps the last two can afford the US costs. Kenya is less so. Europe can afford the cost of paper. Western Russia and Ukraine together produce over one-third of the world’s wheat production. Bread, pasta, chapatis, and cakes. And sunflower oil accounts for two-thirds of the world’s supply, despite the fact that it is technically a seed rather than a grain.
By the conclusion of harvest, they will have approximately 40mt of grain on hand. Not counting anything the Russians have damaged or stolen. Meanwhile, the Middle East and Africa go famished. Furthermore, floods have resulted in a significant shortfall in China (so they require 9.5mt instead of the usual 6mt), a heatwave has reduced yields in India, and to make matters worse, the Indian government has barred exports of the typical 7mt.
Unfortunately, cake is not an option; Marie-Antoinette may have appreciated it. Well, Putin did offer to do the same thing if the US lifted some of its sanctions. Here’s how compromise works. Peace demands some form of compromise. The problem is the dunderhead sitting in the White House right now, as well as his all-weather pet in London who does everything the master says.
Anyway, Russia proposed a settlement, which the US rejected. This is a facepalm moment. Right here! This is exactly what a bargain is. You offer me something, and I reciprocate. Ease sanctions, and the world will not go hungry. How difficult is it to understand? if the United States had adopted it, we would have seen immediate relief from the food situation, and inflation (they call it Bidenflation, which I love) would have decreased from fuel to food.
This would have marked the beginning of a peace treaty, the end of war. See how Russia controls Ukraine’s major ports?
