Statement by the Delegation of Ukraine under agenda item 26 “Agriculture development, food security and nutrition”

Mr. President,

With regard to the resolution just adopted, I would like to reiterate the position of the Delegation of Ukraine on the issue of food security.

As a reliable contributor to the global food security and one of the main food suppliers Ukraine fully shares the commitment to act with urgency, at scale, and in concert to respond to the urgent food security and nutrition needs of millions of people worldwide.

Over the past years the food security situation has aggravated for the most vulnerable, in particular due to the impact of the COVID-19 and climate change.

But his year the world has faced a new threat of unprecedented nature – a full-fledged war of aggression unleashed by russia against Ukraine. Along with international law and rule-based order, russia has also hit the global food security as about 400 million people throughout the world, mostly in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, depend on grain and oil supplies from Ukraine.

Now, due to blockade of Ukrainian seaports, the export of Ukrainian grain has almost stopped. Large areas in the East and South of Ukraine remain a place of combat actions or under temporary occupation. That is the reason why we expect in 2022 a harvest to be just 50% of the last year yields.

Another threat is russian actions to seize Ukrainian grain for their own consumption or in attempt to illegally sell it on international markets, in particular the russian occupiers have already stolen at least 400-500 thousand tons of grain. Almost all grain-laden ships departing from temporary occupied Sevastopol are loaded with stolen Ukrainian commodities.

We demand that russia stop illicit grain stealing, unblock Ukrainian ports, restore freedom of navigation, and allow trade ships to pass.

Mr. President,

We strongly reject any manipulative narrative that sanctions against russia would make it impossible to effectively address the issue of agricultural export. As soon as russia is compelled to stop the war the looming threat of hunger will be over, in particular for the most vulnerable. Otherwise, the famine and sufferings of millions will be russia’s total responsibility. I thank you.