A total of 345 million people suffer from catastrophic food shortages worldwide. 82 countries need food aid according to UN figures.
Ukraine is actively seeking a way out of the global food crisis caused by Russia and keeps its promises as a global food guarantor despite its plight, and also cares for ordinary people in countries facing food shortages.
The main cause of the world food crisis is Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Before 2022, Ukraine produced food for 400 million people annually, reports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
The products are tens of millions of tons of grain for which there is no other alternative. Before the invasion in 2022, Ukraine accounted for 47% of the world market for sunflower, 17% for barley, 14% for maize and 10% for wheat. In countries such as Lebanon, India, Iraq and China, some agricultural products from Ukraine account for over 50% of imports.
Russia's aggression and blockade affected the logistics of maritime trade, interrupting the work of key seaports in the world grain trade, the Ukrainian ministry emphasized.
Ukraine is a responsible global player that offers innovative solutions. Thus, on November 26, 2022, in the midst of a war of Russian aggression, President Volodymyr Zelensky launched a humanitarian food program "Grain from Ukraine (Editor's note: "Grain from Ukraine"). The program was launched during the first inaugural International Summit on Food Security in Kyiv.
"Grain from Ukraine" is implemented in close partnership with the World Food Program of the United Nations. As part of the initiative, Ukraine has already exported 170 thousand tons of wheat to the countries with the worst food situation - Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen and Kenya. The program is planned to be expanded to Nigeria, Sudan, Mozambique, Madagascar, Djibouti, Mauritania, Lebanon and other countries.
These actions clearly show that Ukraine is making efforts to help people around the world who have suffered from the war.
With the implementation of the "Grain from Ukraine" humanitarian program, Ukraine strives to fulfill its obligations to the world community. The program provides vital livelihoods to millions of people in the regions most vulnerable to famine, strengthening Ukraine's global role as a guarantor of global food security. The country seeks to continue food delivery initiatives.
Russia blocks shipping from the Black Sea region to other countries.
Moscow is also destroying Ukrainian grain terminals and port infrastructure with precision missile attacks, thereby blackmailing other countries with the threat of a food supply crisis. This is direct evidence of crimes against humanity: while African countries suffer from drought, food shortages and high prices, Russia demonstratively destroys food that could feed millions of people.
"Having experienced the horrors of man-induced famine - the genocide called the Famine of 1932-1933 - Ukraine will not allow Russia to use famine as a weapon against Ukraine itself or other countries in the world ever again. Today, due to Russia's war against Ukraine, people in other parts of the world are experiencing food shortages and rising prices. Ukraine will not allow Russia to repeat this crime against it or other countries, so grain supplies must and will continue".
Food security is one of the key pillars of a just and lasting peace – the one achieved within the framework of the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. For its part, the humanitarian program "Grain from Ukraine" is essential to ensure global food security.
Ukraine is helping the world maintain stability and security even in the face of a full-scale Russian invasion, and is resisting the chaos and food crisis resulting from Russia's aggression. /BGNES
