"90 years ago, the terrible Holodomor, a result of the policy of the Soviet Union, caused the death of millions of Ukrainians, and today Russia uses hunger as a weapon of war against Ukraine, while at the same time trying to create division and instability among the rest of the world."

APA reports that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this at the conference on the "Grain from Ukraine" initiative.

"I strongly support the efforts of Ukraine and the international community to continue the supply of grain through the Black Sea.

This is vital.

In particular, I welcome our NATO ally Turkey's work with the UN to expand the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Recently, while meeting with President Erdogan in Istanbul, I saw grain ships in the Bosphorus.

They carry food, grain and fertilizer from Ukrainian ports.

I also welcome the efforts of NATO allies and the EU to move cargo from Ukraine by land.

We must all remember and explain the causes of this crisis.

This food crisis is not caused by international sanctions against Russia.

This was caused by Russia's war against Ukraine," Jens Stoltenberg stressed.

He said that Russia has intervened militarily in the territory of its sovereign democratic neighbor: "Russia has tried to annex some parts of the territory of Ukraine, completely ignoring the UN Charter and international law.

Russia carries out deliberate mass attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure facilities.

Residential buildings, hospitals and power grids are targeted.

Russian forces blocked Ukrainian ports for months, stealing grain and agricultural machinery.

Even now, they continue to destroy agriculture and export facilities.

This war is terrible for tens of millions of Ukrainians who fought against the Russian invaders to protect their homeland and freedom.

This war affects everyone in Europe and beyond, including the world's most vulnerable groups.

Russia is not only using bombs and bullets to threaten the freedom and sovereignty of Ukraine, Russia is using gas and grain as weapons to divide and destabilize us all."

The NATO Secretary General noted that the allies of the Alliance provide unprecedented financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine in order to preserve its existence as a sovereign and independent country:

"We will be with Ukraine as long as it takes.

We call on Russia to stop the war and withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

This is the best way to achieve peace in Ukraine and end the food crisis in the world."