Russia weaponising hunger and energy: Borrell on Russian naval blockade

The EU's chief diplomat Josep Borrell said this during EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Kyiv.

"Today, we had an nformal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Kyiv. This is for sure a historical date for several reasons. It is the first time ever that the Council met outside the European Union. It is the first time that we met in a candidate country. And, unfortunately, it was also the first time that the Foreign Ministers of the European Union met in a country at war. Of course, we would have preferred very much to meet under different circumstances, but these circumstances are the way they are, and we have to support Ukraine in facing this challenge," he said. 

Borrell added that the EU foreign ministers, having come to Kyiv, expressed a powerful message of solidarity and support for Ukraine in its fight against an unjust, illegitimate war.

"I, personally - before today’s meeting - visited Odesa and Kyiv, to meet with the Ukrainian people, to know and discuss their daily lives and see with my own eyes the brutal, inhumane nature of Putin’s aggression against this country. Targeting churches, cultural heritage, ports that are exporting food for hungry people around the world – this says a lot about the true face of the so-called “special military operation” that Putin is waging against the people of Ukraine, who are resisting with incredible bravery," he said. 

The EU's chief diplomat emphasized that Russia is turning hunger and energy into weapons.

"Russia is weaponising hunger and energy. Russia is doing so, extending its crimes across the globe, targeting the most vulnerable people in Africa and in Asia, depriving them of their food. This is the consequence of this naval blockage. This is not only our claim. It is also the perception of many, as we have seen at the heart of the United Nations General Assembly two weeks ago," Borrell added. 

• After an unannounced visit to Odesa, Josep Borrell arrived in Kyiv. On the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, October 1, the EU High Representative, together with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, took part in events honoring the defenders.

• In addition, Borrell said that the EU's support for Ukraine in the defense sector has reached EUR 25 billion, and the total amount of assistance, including military, civilian and humanitarian aid, is EUR 85 billion.

• On Monday, October 2, an informal meeting of the European Union's Foreign Ministers began in the Ukrainian capital, the first ever outside the EU.

• On October 2, an informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers began in the Ukrainian capital, the first ever outside the EU. During the meeting, the EU's top diplomat said that the strongest security commitment the EU can offer Ukraine is membership