He took questions from reporters about concerns of growing food insecurity globally, as the two nations that are currently in conflict provide much of the world’s wheat.
“With regard to food shortages. Yes, we did talk about food shortages. And, and it’s gonna be real.”
“Can you say whether there’s the conversation is a turn to the subject of food shortages and what the US will do to address wheat shortages in particular, as a result of this?” Biden was asked.
“With regard to food shortages. Yes, we did talk about food shortages. And, and it’s gonna be real,” Biden said.
“The price of the sanctions is not just imposed upon Russia. It’s imposed upon an awful lot of countries as well. Including European countries and our country as well,” he went on.
The United States and NATO nations have issued major sanctions against the Russian economy, pushing Russia to engage in trade with nations that are not part of the western alliance.
“And because both Russia and Ukraine have been the breadbasket of Europe in terms of wheat, for example, just give one example. But we had a long discussion in the G7 with the, with both the United States, which has a significant third-largest producer of wheat in the world, as well as Canada, which is also a major, major producer,” Biden said.
“And we both talked about how we could increase and disseminate more rapidly, food shortages. In addition to that, we talked about urging all European countries and everyone else end trade restrictions on sending, limitations on sending food abroad.
“And so we are in the process of working out with our European friends, what it would be, what it would take to help alleviate the concerns relative to food shortages.
“We also talked about a significant major US investment, among others, in terms of providing for, the need for humanitarian assistance, including food as we move forward,” Biden concluded.
The flag of Ukraine, blue on top and gold on the bottom, represents the sky and fields of wheat.
Consumer prices have risen consistently in the US on everything from food, to fuel, to supplies. Concerns have been mounting as the Ukraine conflict continues that prices increases will not abate, but will continue their rise unimpeded.