At the United Nations, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday accused Russia of assaulting the global food system, saying hunger must not be “weaponized.” Blinken’s remarks came after Russia stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s agriculture and port facilities in the Black Sea, and on an inland port across the Danube River from Romania, where a Russian attack Wednesday destroyed nearly 40,000 tons of grain.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken: “What has Russia’s response been to the world’s distress and outrage? Bombing Ukrainian granaries, mining port entrances, threatening to attack any vessel in the Black Sea, no matter its flag, no matter its cargo.”