UNITED NATIONS, March 31. /TASS/. Instead of helping countries in need the West is replenishing its long-term food supplies, trying to shift all the blame for the crises on Russia, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said in an interview with TASS.

"So far, the UN does not dare to state this (the ineffectiveness of the West's humanitarian exemptions from its sanctions - TASS), including due to pressure from Western countries, which in the current situation, instead of real assistance to needy states, use the moment to earn extra money and make long-term food supplies themselves, and put the blame for all crises on Russia. An analysis of the first and second stages of the implementation of the ‘Black Sea Initiative’ reveals all these ‘marked cards’ of the Westerners," he said.

"Judge yourself: the increase in the total volume of cargo amounted to 23%. Shipments to developed economies increased from 78% to 85%. At the same time, supplies to the least developed countries fell from 4.2% to 1.34%, including a drop in supplies from the UN World Food Program from 2.89% to 1.16%," the diplomat added.

Nebenzya added that no one can ensure food security around the world without grain and fertilizers from Russia. "However, in the context of the growing threats to global food security, which no one can ensure without Russian fertilizers and grains, as well as the consequences of illegitimate unilateral sanctions that place a heavy burden on developing countries, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Washington, London and Brussels to "lead by the nose" the states dependent both on food imports and on donor assistance. And the vulnerable countries themselves are beginning to worry more and more about this, sending appropriate signals to the UN Secretary General and UNCTAD," he said.

The full text of the interview is available at: https://tass.com/politics/1596965.