Grain exported from Ukraine has so far saved 20 million people from starvation in the world. Ukrainian food supplies reached 400 million people in 100 countries of the world. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this at the third conference of the Grain from Ukraine initiative in Kyiv on Saturday. TASR informs about it based on a Reuters report.
Ukraine is a major grower of grain and corn. Before the start of the invasion by Russian forces in February 2022, it exported about six million tons of grain per month through the Black Sea. Russia blocked Ukraine’s Black Sea ports after launching the invasion. Exports from them were resumed in July 2022 as part of the Black Sea Grain Initiative — an agreement brokered by the UN and Turkey. A year later, however, Russia withdrew from it.
“Food prices in Egypt, Libya, Nigeria and other African countries directly depend on whether farmers and agricultural companies in Ukraine can function normally. How quickly we can clear our fields of Russian mines depends on how quickly the usual stability of the food market is restored“, said Zelensky.
According to him, drone and missile attacks by Russian forces have damaged 321 objects in Ukrainian ports and more than 20 commercial ships of other countries since July last year. At a press conference with foreign journalists, Zelensky expressed hope that there are ways to end the war next year. “When will the war end? It will end when Russia decides so. When America’s position is stronger. When the Global South is on the side of Ukraine and on the side of ending the war” Zelenskyi said.
According to him, all these steps will take place sooner or later. “It won’t be an easy road, but I am convinced that we have a chance to make it happen next year“, he stated. “We are open to proposals from the leaders of African, Asian and Arab states,” continued Zelenskyj. “I also want to hear the proposals of the new president of the United States of America. I think we’ll see them in January and we’ll have a plan to end this war.”
