Putin holds international community hostage with famine threats

Putin can no longer force Ukrainians to starve. But it can keep Ukrainian grain in elevators and ports, preventing it from being exported, thus causing hunger in Asia and Africa. This is also a struggle against Ukrainian statehood and national revival, only in a different way. Putin wants Western politicians to be intimidated by the consequences of this new Holodomor. He wants them 'to prevent the starvation of millions of people, new uprisings and crises.' And, of course, the consequences of the most important crisis for the West - migration. When millions of starving countries rush to Europe for food.

To those who fear it, Putin offers a simple solution - to give up pressure on Russia and lift sanctions. This is exactly what the Russian president talked about with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and this is the approach that Russian diplomats are calling for. But agreeing to this blackmail will be the first act of capitulation to Putin and, ultimately, should lead the Kremlin to the West's refusal to support Ukrainian sovereignty.

Therefore, it's impossible to yield to Putin, and Ukraine's Black Sea ports must be unblocked by force or severe pressure on Russia.