The war in Ukraine is giving rise to steep increases in food prices

In a previous Letter to the Editor, I drew attention to the fact that the war in Ukraine is blowing no one any good, except for the military—industrial-complex which is raking in billions of dollars in profits at the expense of death, destruction and human suffering.

The situation has since deteriorated giving rise to steep increases in the cost of energy and food prices, especially that of wheaten flour of which both Russia and Ukraine are major producers. The price of fertilizer, an important component in the cost structure of agricultural produce, has also skyrocketed. In this regard, President Irfaan Ali and the PPP/C administration must be commended for the several relief measures it is taking to cushion the cost of living, including the most recent decision to provide free fertilizer to farmers.

It is time to bring this senseless war to an end which is now approaching its fifth month. The only way out of the impasse, in my view, is by way of a negotiated agreement which must take into account the full sovereignty of the Ukrainian people and the security concerns of the Russian Federation. The recent decision by Finland and Sweden to seek membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will further complicate the situation in Europe from a security perspective given their close geographical proximity to Russia.

The decision of these two sovereign nations, however, must be respected and a way has to be found within the framework of the United Nations Charter and international law to address the security concerns of the whole of Europe, and the sooner the better, not only for Europeans but humanity as a whole. In this supposedly modern and civilized age, there can be no place for a military solution to a security problem given the availability of supra-national institutions for conflict resolution including the United Nations and the International Court of Justice.

Sincerely, Hydar Ally