Sybiha: Putin aims to trigger migration to Europe; Black Sea blockade part of this plan

Russian President Vladimir Putin is allegedly employing migration as a tactic to destabilize European governments and diminish support for Ukraine, according to Kyiv's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The blockade of Black Sea ports is part of this strategy, as Russia's attacks on Ukrainian ports are disrupting maritime exports, which are crucial sources of food for countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

This approach not only causes direct harm to families reliant on these supplies but also aims to drive an influx of migrants towards European borders. According to Sybiha, Moscow anticipates that this will create tension, sow division, bolster radical anti-European movements, and ultimately weaken Europe's backing for Ukraine. The remarks were made on the back of a recent far-right party victory in Germany and France's far-right opposition leader Marine Le Pen's frontrunner status for the presidential election next year.

Upcoming parliamentary elections in Spain and Italy, where anti-immigration parties are polling strongly, could further weaken support for Ukraine in the European bloc, which has become a major supporter of Kyiv. Sybiha suggested that Putin knows migration is a highly sensitive and divisive issue in European elections, citing how Russian-linked networks capitalized on the Ceuta crisis.

In addition to the Black Sea blockade, Russia continues to utilize Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko to smuggle migrants across the EU's northeastern borders. While Russia has been striking Ukrainian ports throughout the ongoing war, Kyiv has also targeted Russian ports in the Black and Azov seas with drone attacks, disrupting Russia's own food exports.

This escalation in hostilities has contributed to a surge in global food prices, already on the rise since the start of the U.S.-Iran War in late February.