Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his country has exported 12 million tons of grain products to 40 countries, noting that about 500 ships left Ukrainian ports, within the framework of the grain shipment agreement across the Black Sea that was signed in Turkey and sponsored by the United Nations.

This came in Zelensky's speech at the "Grain from Ukraine" forum hosted by the capital, Kyiv, with the participation of European leaders, in which he talked about developments in the ongoing war with Russia.

Zelinsky pointed out that Ukraine is one of the most important countries exporting grain products to the world, and that his country continues to export grain to various countries despite all difficulties in order to avoid famines.

Kyiv launched an international aid program to win the support of countries in Africa and Asia, with the aim of countering Russian accusations that rich countries in the West caused the global food crisis as a result of the sanctions it imposed on Moscow.

This program will cover the costs of delivering food to the poorest countries, which may reach $150 million.

Up to 60 ships will be sent from Ukraine's Black Sea ports around Odessa to countries such as Sudan, Yemen or Somalia by the middle of next year.


Program financing

Several European countries have agreed to fund deliveries under the World Food Program, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has already announced that a WFP ship sponsored by Germany is on its way to deliver Ukrainian grain to Ethiopia.

French President Emmanuel Macron also announced that his country is ready to provide 6 million euros to help Ukraine send food to Yemen and Sudan.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexandre de Croo also pledged - during his visit to Kiev - to provide Belgian assistance, and explained that "this initiative allows to prevent potential problems with food supplies in some African countries."

On November 17, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the extension of the grain agreement by 120 days, starting from the 19th of the same month.

On July 22, Turkey, the United Nations, Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul to resume grain exports from 3 Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, which were suspended last February due to the Russian-Ukrainian war.