United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns poor countries are “being economically ruined” by the war in Ukraine. The problems are caused by the simultaneous occurrence of a food crisis, an energy crisis and a financial crisis.
Russia is the world’s largest exporter of oil and gas, and Russia and Ukraine are both major grain producers. Together they account for about a third of global exports. At least 36 countries depend on Russia and Ukraine for more than half of their wheat imports, including some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable countries. The war disrupted the trade in energy and food.
The war is causing further rising commodity prices worldwide. This too can cause problems for countries, the UN chief said on the basis of a report drawn up by a crisis team shortly after the Russian invasion. “The most vulnerable people worldwide should not become ‘collateral damage’ in yet another disaster that is not their fault,” Guterres said.
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