PRESS RELEASE : A number of countries found themselves on the brink of a new famine precisely because Russia started a war of aggression against Ukraine – Andriy Yermak at a meeting on the implementation of the Grain from Ukraine initiative [November 2022]

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 17 November 2022.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held a meeting of the working group on providing aid to the countries suffering from an acute food crisis. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Office of the President, ministries and departments, ambassadors of Ukraine, foreign diplomats accredited in our country and representatives of international organizations.

Andriy Yermak noted that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the launch of the Grain from Ukraine humanitarian program while participating in the G20 summit.

This initiative is aimed at alleviating the suffering of peoples and overcoming the food crisis caused by Russian armed aggression against Ukraine.

First of all, we are talking about the countries of the African continent and Asia.

The Head of the President’s Office emphasized that the issue of overcoming the food crisis is among the points of the Ukrainian plan, which the Head of State presented at the summit.

“There is one point there about food security and the right of every person not to die of hunger because someone in the Kremlin decided to take away other people’s territories,” he stated.

“Today, all these countries are on the brink of a new famine precisely because Russia started this war of aggression against Ukraine,” emphasized Andriy Yermak.

According to him, the Grain from Ukraine initiative is also important in the context of confirming the status of our country as a guarantor of global food security.

“It is very important that the international community knows exactly who is saving the world from hunger today. It is very important that not only Ukraine, but also partners know this,” said the Head of the President’s Office.

He added that Ukraine is ready to implement this program together with partners whose extensive experience will enable it to be done in a timely and efficient manner.

Deputy Head of the Office of the President Andriy Sybiha noted that several states have already decided to participate in the initiative and are ready to become its donors. In particular, Belgium, Germany and Poland have confirmed the financing of dispatch of ships with grain, which are headed for or have already arrived in the countries in need of food.

The representative of the President’s Office also noted that preliminary confirmations were provided by Japan, Türkiye and the United States.

Andriy Sybiha called on all participants of the meeting to consider the issue of participation in the initiative of Ukraine.

Ambassador of Germany Anka Feldhusen noted that her country is willing to continue financing the dispatch of grain ships to countries that need it.

Ambassador of Türkiye Yağmur Ahmet Güldere said that his country welcomes and supports the Grain from Ukraine initiative and is currently considering how exactly it can help in its implementation. He also assured: Türkiye will continue its efforts to ensure further work of the “grain corridor”.

Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Ukraine Fan Xianrong noted that the PRC welcomes the steps aimed to guarantee global food security and appreciates the efforts that help alleviate the crisis situation, in particular, the extension of the grain agreement.

Representatives of the US Embassy in Ukraine also expressed their support for the Ukrainian initiative and declared willingness to work with our country and partners to make it successful.

Andriy Yermak thanked the partners for what their countries are doing for Ukraine and our citizens, and expressed hope that we will celebrate the great Ukrainian victory together.