Minister Tvinnereim’s address on Ukraine and food security

Chair, co-chairs, dear colleagues, and friends of Ukraine.

Let me start by stating that Norway fully shares the vision outlined in the joint communique.

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is a clear violation of the UN Charter and principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty. All violations and abuse of international law are unacceptable – always, and everywhere.  Together we must redouble our efforts to uphold the international order and end impunity.

Global hunger was already a major concern. But Russia’s invasion and relentless strikes on critical civilian infrastructure further jeopardized global food security. Prices on food and vital inputs for food production like energy and fertilizer, was negatively impacted.

Food has become a global security challenge. As a result, food security is the top development policy priority for Norway.

On top of an already high aid budget for global food security we last year allocated 250 million USD to alleviate the immediate consequences of the war in Ukraine for food security in developing countries. It has been distributed via key partners like FAO, WFP and IFAD.

One result is that more than 2 million people are now better protected against crises through climate risk insurance programmes in Mali, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Madagascar.

I would also like to comment Ukraine’s important contributions in this regard, not least through the Grain from Ukraine Initiative. The 23 000 tonnes of Ukrainian maize now on its way to Mozambique and Malawi is a testimony of Ukraine’s global efforts.

Norway is a proud partner in this important initiative, through our major civilian and military support programme to Ukraine.

We must assist Ukraine in opening trade routes and ensuring free passage in the Black Sea. This is why Norway joined United Kingdom in the leadership of a “Maritime Capability Coalition” with Ukraine. Our goal is to enhance Ukraine's naval defense and improve its ability to operate along its own coast.

Ensuring free, full and safe commercial navigation is of utmost importance. Ukraine has with a great deal of success managed to secure its transportation routes and navigation for exporting grain, sunflower and other food products. This has contributed to more stable prices for food and food production inputs – with positive effects both for Ukraine and the poorer countries.

Stable access to fertilizer and fertilizer inputs is key for food security. Low quality and overprized fertilizer from Russia is reported to be sold on markets in African countries. This is detrimental to the countries’ own goal of sustainable use of fertilizer, and to improve the soil health to raise the sustainability, productivity, profitability and resilience of African agriculture and food systems.

Another priority for Norway is the increased demining action efforts in Ukraine. Humanitarian demining will not only save lives and protect civilians but also make contaminated areas accessible, secure agricultural production, and lay the foundations for recovery of agricultural land.

Ongoing recovery and reconstruction efforts are crucial. An important channel for Norway is therefore the World Bank’s Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund.

Investing in a more sustainable world, free of hunger, is also an investment in our own security- for all our countries.

I am therefore encouraged to see the strengthened international cooperation in this area. We welcome the G20s strong focus on the fight against hunger, and as a guest country we will continue to address food security challenges also within the G20 as well as through all of our bilateral and multilateral diplomacy

In conclusion, it is important to emphasize that the devastating consequences of this war would never have occurred if Russia had not attacked. Russia started this war. Russia can choose to end it at any time.

Thank you.