Despite the war, Ukraine will fulfill its grain export obligations – Zelensky

This program provides for the purchase by partners of agricultural products from Ukrainian manufacturers and their shipment to African and Asian countries that are on the verge of starvation. This will create international support for Ukrainian agriculture, protect crop areas, support production, strengthen supply chains, and find international clients who can guarantee the purchase of Ukrainian agricultural products.

Representatives of almost 30 countries and international organizations took part in the summit in real time and online. The event was moderated by Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President, head of the working group for preparing proposals for providing assistance to states suffering from an acute food crisis.

Zelensky stressed in his opening remarks that Ukraine has traditionally been one of the largest food exporters in the world.

“This year, unfortunately, is different. Russian troops cordoned off Ukrainian ports. Blocked the export of our food. They brought the world to the brink of starvation. They provoked a food crisis. The rapid rise in food prices undermines the well-being of ordinary people, the well-being of millions of families, internal stability and regional security. Mass protests due to rising prices for food, fertilizers, fuel threaten many countries, many societies,” the President noted.

The head of state noted that Ukraine remembers well what famine is, because during the Holodomor, which was staged against Ukrainians by the totalitarian Stalinist regime in 1932-1933, according to various estimates, from 4 to 8 million people died. According to him, our state will make every effort so that this does not happen again in any country in the world. He urged the summit participants to do everything possible to prevent the food crisis from spreading.

“Our goal is ambitious and specific – to save at least 5 million people from hunger. Ukraine has already taken the first steps along this path – it has sent the first ships. In mid-November – 27 thousand tons of wheat for Ethiopia. Another ship is being loaded today. And that’s another 30,000 tons of wheat for the people in Ethiopia. Now three more vessels are under loading in the ports of Ukraine. They will deliver more than 80,000 tons of food wheat to the countries most in need,” Zelensky said.

He noted that under the Grain from Ukraine program, at least 60 vessels are planned to be sent from Ukrainian ports by the end of next spring.

“Ukraine, as one of the guarantors of world food security, will continue to make its key contribution. Despite the war and any obstacles. Ukraine will fulfill its export obligations regarding the supply of grain and other agricultural products to the world market,” the President stressed.

The head of state informed that 20 countries had joined Grain from Ukraine on the launch day, and invited other states and socially responsible businesses to join this program.

The President also proposed the creation of a new international institution with headquarters in Kyiv or Odesa, which will become a new effective and efficient tool for preventing and quickly responding to global crises.

“We will be able to achieve results, overcome all threats, I am sure, only unitedly, only together. Only together we can win. Ukraine and the civilized world – no war, no terrorism, no hunger,” Zelensky stressed.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in a video message, declared her full support for the initiative of the head of the Ukrainian state, Grain from Ukraine. According to her, this is a significant contribution to ensuring food security in the world and a manifestation of solidarity with those in need of such assistance. It is also important to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

“This sends a very powerful signal to the whole world that we will not leave our partners without help,” said von der Leyen.

French President Emmanuel Macron noted that Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine has destabilized supply chains and threatens the world with a food crisis.

“While we have decided to act in solidarity with the most vulnerable countries, Russia, for its part, continues to use hunger as an instrument of influence and as a weapon in this war,” he said.

Macron welcomed Zelensky’s Grain from Ukraine initiative, which, in his opinion, reflects the courage of the Ukrainian people. The French President said that his country is providing funds to help the World Food Program deliver 25,000 tons of wheat from Ukraine to Somalia, as well as additional funding for the transportation and distribution of Ukrainian grain for Yemen and Sudan.

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power noted in a video message that, facing Russia’s brutal aggression today, Ukraine demonstrates that it remains a generous state.

“The United States is honored to play its part in President Zelensky’s $20 million initiative to provide grain to people who need it most during the worst food crisis the world has seen in generations,” she said. Power.

UN Secretary General António Guterres thanked the President of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people for their role in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which will contribute to the safe export of food products.

“We will support the functioning of the joint coordination center in order to continue the free and unhindered work of this initiative,” he stressed.

For his part, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted that 90 years ago, the USSR provoked a terrible Holodomor, during which millions of Ukrainians died, and today Russia is again using hunger as a tool in war and is trying to create instability around the world.

“I strongly support the efforts of Ukraine and the international community regarding the preservation of supplies through the Black Sea. This is critical,” he said.

The NATO Secretary General emphasized that the food crisis was not caused by international sanctions against the Russian Federation, but was caused by Russia’s reckless war against Ukraine. He stressed that the members of the Alliance provide unprecedented financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine to help it win as a sovereign independent state, and will support as long as necessary.

The summit was also attended by: Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki, President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic of Latvia Egils Levits, President of the Republic of Estonia Alar Karis, President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor, President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev, President of Hungary Katalin Novak, Prime Minister Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania Ingrida Simonyte, Prime Minister of Croatia Andrei Plenkovic, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sweden Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Romania Nicolae Chuke, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani, Minister of International Development of Canada Harjita Seijana, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Agriculture of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Teresa Kofi, Minister of European and International Affairs Alexander Schallenberg of Austria, Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic, José Manuel Albarez Bueno, Minister of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, Jan Lipovsky, Czech Foreign Minister, Patricia Danchi, Director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

As previously reported, on the 90th anniversary of the beginning of the Holodomor, Ukraine is launching the Grain from Ukraine initiative, under which, by the middle of next year, about 60 ships with Ukrainian grain are planned to be sent to the poorest countries in Africa.