Ukraine, known as the Breadbasket of Europe, is a major global supplier of grain and before the Russian invasion it regularly exported around six million tonnes of grain every month from its Black Sea ports.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said 321 port facilities have been damaged in Russian drone and missile strikes since last July, potentially hindering Ukraine’s ability export its grain to countries around the world.
“Ukrainian food exports provide food for 400 million people in 100 countries around the world. Food prices in Egypt, Libya, Nigeria and other countries in Africa directly depend on whether farmers and agricultural companies in Ukraine can operate normally,” Zelenskyy said.
“That is why it is so important that we continue to stand together in protecting food security, the security of routes, supplies, food and other critical export goods.”
Zelenskyy was speaking at the third Grain from Ukraine summit in Kyiv, a humanitarian food programme launched by Zelenskyy in 2022.
The goal of the programme is to emphasise Ukraine’s role as a responsible member of the world community and to counter Russian propaganda that blames Ukraine and its Western partners for the food crisis.
“Destroying Ukraine’s ability to supply grain means millions are left without food. No one can close their eyes and pretend this doesn’t concern them. Global food security is under attack and ignoring it will only make the crisis worse. This war is a global issue and it demands a global response,” said the Czech Republic’s Foreign Minister, Jan Lipavský.
The Breadbasket of Europe
Ukraine, known as the Breadbasket of Europe, is a major global supplier of grain and before the Russian invasion it regularly exported around six million tonnes of grain every month from its Black Sea ports.
When Russia invaded in February 2022, it blockaded the Black Sea ports and grain exports collapsed sparking a global food security crisis.
But in July 2022, shipments of grain resumed under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal mediated by the United Nations and Türkiye.
But that success was short-lived with Russia exiting the pact a year later, claiming provisions in the deal covering its own exports of grain and fertiliser weren’t being honoured.
Since then, Ukraine has continued to export grain along its own sea corridor established in July 2023.
That passes through the territorial waters of Türkiye, Bulgaria and Romania but damage to port infrastructure from ongoing strikes in the Black Sea region has raised concerns about how effectively Ukraine can ship that grain.
Russia has repeatedly denied launching attacks on any civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.
“To enslave Ukraine and destroy the existing world order, the Putin regime, like the totalitarian Stalinist regime, has taken up the cause of Ukrainian grain. Putin has turned the threat of famine into a weapon, seeking to cause a global food crisis and famine,” said Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha.
“The military invasion of Ukraine, energy blackmail of Europe and a grain blockade for the global south, especially Africa, were and are part of the Russian plan.”
The Czech Foreign Minister was the only foreign representative to attend the summit in person, but many others appeared via video call.
Estonian President Alar Karis said Russia’s aggressive war is also a war against millions of other people around the world who do not have enough food.
While in her call, Swiss President Viola Amherst said the grain initiative was a demonstration of the strength of solidarity of Ukrainians.
But data from traders and the Ukrainian government show Ukraine’s grain exports in the 2024/2025 season amounted to almost 16 million metric tonnes, up from 11 million tonnes in the same period the previous year.
