‘Ukraine will continue to be guarantor of global food security,’ says Zelenskyy

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday met with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo in the capital Kyiv and said his country will fulfill its export obligations regarding the supply of grain and other foodstuffs to the global market.

"One of the main issues that we discussed today with Alexander De Croo was our Grain from Ukraine initiative. Belgium has supported it and has already joined in providing funding for humanitarian food supplies," Zelenskyy said at a news conference following the meeting.

Zelenskyy said that "through such joint efforts, millions of people in the poorest countries in Africa and Asia will be saved from starvation and related social disasters."

"Ukraine has always been and will continue to be the guarantor of global food security, and even in the harsh conditions of war, Ukrainian leadership works for global stability," he added.

On July 22, Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which had been paused in February due to Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Last week, days before its scheduled expiration, the landmark grain deal signed in Istanbul in July by Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine was extended for another 120 days, beginning Nov. 19.