By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Excluding Russia in the Group of 20 large economies and other international organizations could slow efforts at addressing a worsening global hunger crisis exacerbated due to the conflict in Ukraine. This is what the head of the German aid group Welthungerhilfe told Reuters.

Mathias Mogge (chief executive), said the group serves 13.5 million people and has projects in 35 other countries. In order to tackle the crisis, it is crucial that the group maintains communication with Russia.

Russia is obviously the aggressor in this situation, so there must be sanctions. However, communication must continue openly in an emergency situation like the one we are currently experiencing. Mogge spoke in interview this week.

Mogge’s remarks come just days after Joe Biden, the U.S. president, said that he believes Russia should be expelled from G20. Experts, however, believe this unlikely due to the lack of support by India and China.

Officials at the United Nations claim that Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February has driven food prices worldwide up and caused shortages of key crops in some parts of Central Asia, North Africa and the Middle East.

Russia called the “special military operations” a war that has cut shipments from Russia and China, who together make up 25% of global wheat exports. The reductions have driven international prices to skyrocket.

Mogge stated that he expects the Group of Seven leaders will address this issue at their forthcoming meetings.

Mogge stated that Russia was still part of the Group of Eight in the past food crisis of 2007/2008 and had played an important role in decreasing hunger around the world.