By KYIV. Nov 15 (Interfax-Ukraine) – President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called, as he said, the G-19 countries to join the "grain initiative."
"Thanks to the strong participation of the UN, Türkiye and other partners, we have demonstrated how the cooperation of a few can restore food security for the many. I believe our export grain initiative deserves an indefinite extension – no matter when the war ends," he said Tuesday, speaking via video link at the G-20 summit.
"Since July, Ukraine has exported over 10 million tons of food by sea. We can increase exports by several million tons per month. Thus for this I propose to expand the grain export initiative to our other ports – in particular, to the ports of Mykolaiv and "Olvia" in the Mykolaiv region," he said.
Zelensky also called on "all countries – and in particular your countries, dear G-19 leaders – to join our initiative to help the poorest with food. We have already launched the initiative – ‘Grain From Ukraine.’ And the first vessel – Nord Vind – leaves for Ethiopia with 27 thousand tons of wheat on board. This is the amount that can feed almost 100,000 people per year."
According to him, Ukraine can export 45 million tonnes of food this year. "And let a significant part of it be directed to those who suffer the most. What do we propose exactly? Each country can join with a specific contribution and become a co-creator of the victory over hunger and the food crisis," the President of Ukraine said.
