The President Of The European Council Calls The Russia-Ukraine War A Source Of The World Energy And Food Crisis

JAKARTA - European Expert Council President Charles Michel said the current acute food and energy crisis, both in Iowa and the Middle East, stemmed from the Russian-Ukraine war.

Therefore, he also asked Russia to end the war. "Wherever you live, from Iowa to Africa, or the Middle East, and the only best way to end the acute food and energy crisis, Russia ends an unreasonable war," he told a news conference in Bali, Tuesday, November 15. Currently, Michel continued, a number of people facing severe hunger and malnutrition have increased.

This condition, said Michel, could not be separated from the actions of the Kremlin or the office of the Russian presidency which decided to arm food, encourage hunger, poverty and instability. "This also has dramatic consequences for developing countries, including here in Asia," he said.

Michel said Russia had imposed restrictions on the export of its own food ingredients and imposed restrictions on fertilizers.

The European Union, Michel said, is working hard to address the issue.

"I deal with Russia, on the other hand, because you (Russia) impose restrictions on the export of food ingredients yourself. In fact, before the war began, it imposed restrictions on fertilizers in the EU," he said.

"At the EU, we are working hard to address the government's consequences of this war."

The Russia-Ukraine conflict became one of the main topics under the European Union to the G20 Summit. Michel also hopes that this G20 meeting can become a common forum to encourage Russia to stop the war.

Although Russian President Vladimir Putin was not present, Michel said, this did not necessarily dampen the spirit of peace.

"This forum is a good moment to encourage peace. I hope all G20 countries can urge Russia to end the war," he said.