Zelensky calls on the international community to unblock Ukraine's ports to avoid a global food crisis

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The president of

warns that trade in the country's ports is paralyzed, so he urges the international community to take immediate measures to end the Russian blockade and thus allow the wheat trade and avoid a world food crisis.

made these statements after speaking with the President of the European Council,

, who visited Odessa, the main Black Sea port for the export of agricultural products, where missiles shelled several tourist sites and destroyed buildings on Monday.

"For the first time in decades and decades, in Odessa there is no regular movement of the merchant fleet, there is no port routine. This has probably never happened in Odessa since World War II," Zelensky said in a video.

"And this is a blow not only to Ukraine. Without our agricultural exports, dozens of countries in different parts of the world

. And over time, the situation can become, frankly, frightening." It was the world's fourth largest exporter of corn in the 2020/21 season and the sixth largest exporter of wheat, according to data from the International Grains Council.

But about 25 million tonnes of grain is now stuck in Ukraine, a UN food agency official said on Friday.

"Immediate measures must be taken to unblock Ukrainian ports for wheat exports," Zelensky said on his Telegram messaging channel. He did not specify what measures he was asking for.

NATO countries, including the United States, have ruled out armed intervention for fear of triggering a wider war. Canadian Prime Minister

, who traveled to Kiev on Sunday, said his country would help Ukraine find options on how to export stored grains.

Michel, president of the European Council, wrote on Twitter that he had seen silos full of grain, wheat and corn in Odessa that were ready to be exported but remained blocked.

During his visit to the port city, which was bombed, he had to take cover.

"This much needed food is stranded due to the Russian war and blockade of Black Sea ports. Causing dramatic consequences for vulnerable countries.

" he wrote.

Russia's blockade of Ukrainian ports since the February 24 invasion has added to volatility in international financial markets,

UN Secretary General

said last week that the problem of food security cannot be solved without restoring Ukrainian production on the world market.

Ukraine's agricultural officials estimate the exportable surplus at about 12 million tonnes, and agricultural analysts have said Ukraine's stocks are so high that

when it arrives.

Ukraine has planted about 7 million hectares of spring crops this year, which is 25-30% less than the previous year, Agriculture Minister Mykola Solskyi said on Monday, adding that Ukraine had exported 1,090 million tons of grain in April, but that the planting was not of the same quality as last year and, furthermore, the corn planting area was smaller.

Moscow, meanwhile, continues to defend that its "special operation" in Ukraine is designed to disarm and denazify its smaller neighbor.

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