Grain from Ukraine, Nov 25th: “Never again should hunger become a weapon against the freedom of people,” – Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky participated in the second international summit of the initiative “Grain from Ukraine,” held on November 25th in Kyiv.

The aim of the event is to strengthen Ukraine’s role as a guarantor of food security, consolidate efforts to ensure global food security, and develop alternative logistics options for the export of agricultural products from the country.

According to Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia will keep trying to use food shortages and to weaponise hunger. He reminded that on the first day of the full-scale war, the Russian fleet blocked Ukrainian seaports and the food export from Ukraine, which are crucial for the world.

“The stability of the food market is crucial for dozens of countries and hundreds of millions of people across the vast expanse from West Africa to East Asia,” the Head of State said.

At the same time, he emphasised that the Grain from Ukraine summit is further proof that Ukraine will not lose its strength and freedom and will be able to defend the global understanding that terror must be defeated.

“I am proud of all Ukrainians who managed to restore security in the Black Sea so that Ukrainian ports could operate again for the sake of global food security and our exports.

“I am grateful to all leaders and countries present here who are helping us resist Russian terror and protect lives worldwide,” said the President.

According to him, the Ukrainian humanitarian initiative Grain from Ukraine, which has already united nearly 40 countries and international organisations, is assisting those nations that suffer the most from food shortages.

“We are providing assistance despite constant Russian terror and ongoing Russian attempts to disrupt our food exports. Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen, Kenya… 

“They have already received over 170,000 tonnes of food thanks to our joint humanitarian initiative. This is a lifeline for millions of lives,” the Head of State said.

Volodymyr Zelensky also announced that another vessel is being prepared to transport grain cargo to a port of Nigeria, which will help nearly 400,000 people.

“I am confident that this summit, our second Grain from Ukraine summit, will make our humanitarian work even more sustainable and substantive,” he said.

The President highlighted that the Ukrainian people, once experienced a terrible artificially induced famine orchestrated by the enemy, particularly perceive the threat of hunger for any other nation.

“Never again should hunger become a weapon against the freedom of people. And anyone who tries to use hunger in such a way, anyone whose terror creates chaos in the food market, must be held accountable before the entire world. Russia must be held accountable. I am confident that it will be,” Volodymyr Zelensky concluded.

President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, President of Switzerland Alain Berset, and Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė personally took part in the second Grain from Ukraine summit.