If Putin could arrange another Holodomor in Ukraine, he would do it, - Zelensky
Opening the summit, the Head of State noted that last night, on the eve of the Holodomor Remembrance Day, Russia launched more than 70 Shahed attack UAVs at the territory of Ukraine, the President's website reports, Censor.NET reports.
"Today, on the eve of this day of remembrance, such a terrorist strike means that Putin is proud to imitate the greatest murderers of the twentieth century. If he could arrange another Holodomor for Ukraine, he would do it," the President said.
According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia will continue to try to exploit food shortages and turn hunger into a weapon. He reminded that on the first day of the full-scale war, the Russian fleet blocked Ukrainian seaports and food exports from Ukraine, which are critical for the world.
"Dozens of countries and hundreds of millions of people in a vast area from West Africa to East Asia depend on the stability of the food market," the Head of State noted.
At the same time, he stressed that today's summit is another proof that Ukraine will not lose its strength, freedom and will be able to protect the global understanding that terror must lose.
"I am proud of all Ukrainians who have managed to bring security back to the Black Sea, so that Ukrainian ports can once again work for global food security and for our exports. I am grateful to all the leaders and countries who are present here and who are helping us around the world to resist Russian terror and protect lives," the President said.
According to him, the Ukrainian humanitarian initiative Grain from Ukraine, which has already united almost 40 countries and international organisations, helps those states that suffer the most from food shortages.
"We help despite the constant Russian terror, the constant Russian attempts to disrupt our food exports. Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen, Kenya... They have already received more than 170,000 tonnes of food thanks to our joint humanitarian initiative. This is a salvation for millions of lives," the Head of State stressed.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said that another vessel was preparing to depart to carry grain cargo to the port of Nigeria, which would help almost 400,000 people.
"I am confident that this summit - the second Grain from Ukraine summit - will make the relevant humanitarian work even more sustainable and meaningful," he said.
The President stressed that the Ukrainian people, who once experienced a terrible artificial famine organised by the enemy, are particularly sensitive to the threat of famine to any other nation.
"Never again should hunger become a weapon against human freedom. And everyone who tries to use hunger in this way, everyone whose terror serves to create chaos in the food market, must be held accountable to the whole world. Russia must be held accountable. I am confident that it will be," Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded.
The second Grain from Ukraine summit was attended by President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, President of Switzerland Alain Berset, and Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrid Šimonite.
They addressed the participants in a video format: President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda, President of the Republic of Guatemala Alejandro Jammattei, President of Estonia Alar Karis. Video messages were also delivered by Giorgi Meloni, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Alexander De Kroo, Prime Minister of Belgium, and others.
The summit participants discussed cooperation in grain storage and transportation of agricultural products to recipient countries. They also discussed intensifying the involvement of international partners in the Grain from Ukraine initiative and expanding the list of countries receiving food aid.
In addition, the issue of coordination was raised in order to increase pressure on Russia to end its food blockade.
The second international Grain from Ukraine summit resulted in the adoption of a Joint Statement supported by 23 countries.
