In a lengthy Twitter thread on Saturday, Yale historian Timothy Snyder details how Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning food insecurity to his advantage. He referred to this as the “latest chapter of hunger politics.”
His theory got much attention from fans and Twitter users. Professor Snyder, who is an expert in the holocaust and authoritarianism is also specializes in the modern history of Central and Eastern Europe.
He speaks five and reads ten European languages, and has written eight books. His latest books were both published in 2018: The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America and The Balkans as Europe. Prof. Snyder’s best-sellers are On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. And Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin
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Snyder thinks Putin is prepared to starve much of the developing world in order to win Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.
According to him as the next phase of his war in Europe, Vladimir Putin plans to starve a large portion of the developing globe. Snyder began by talking about how important Ukraine’s food exports are to the world food supply. Together, Russia and Ukraine account for 30 percent of world wheat exports, whereas Ukraine only produces 12 percent.
The situation in Ukraine has already led global prices for cooking oils, fuel, and fertilizer to soar. The Russian incursion has impeded ships in the Black Sea, a vital transport route for wheat and other commodities, so restricting Ukrainian and Russian exports. Stopping these shipments could be disastrous for countries like Yemen, which used to get more than a quarter of its wheat from Ukraine.The Kremlin has denied that Russia is stopping millions of tons of grain shipments from leaving its ports.
According to the historian, Putin’s “hunger strategy” had three primary aims. First, cut off the exports of Ukraine in an attempt to destroy its statehood. Second, to cause instability in Europe by creating migrants from regions such as North Africa and the Middle East that rely on Ukraine for food.
He ended by saying that Putin planned to use the global famine as a “backdrop for a propaganda contest.”
He said, “Russia wants Asians and Africans to starve to death so it can win its war in Europe.”
The conflict in Ukraine has continued since Russia’s invasion on February 24. After failing to take over Kiev, Russian soldiers turned their attention to the eastern Donbas area, but this week, Ukrainian officials said their country needs more weapons.
Russia has a hunger plan. Vladimir Putin is preparing to starve much of the developing world as the next stage in his war in Europe. 1/16
— Timothy Snyder (@TimothyDSnyder) June 11, 2022
Russia is planning to starve Asians and Africans in order to win its war in Europe. This is a new level of colonialism, and the latest chapter of hunger politics. 16/16
— Timothy Snyder (@TimothyDSnyder) June 11, 2022
When the food riots begin, and as starvation spreads, Russian propaganda will blame Ukraine, and call for Russia’s territorial gains in Ukraine to be recognized, and for all sanctions to be lifted. 15/16
— Timothy Snyder (@TimothyDSnyder) June 11, 2022
