Zelenskyy predicts a global food crisis if Ukraine can't free its ports

If the country cannot free its ports from Russian blockades, there will be a global food crisis.

He said the crisis in countries dependent on Ukrainian grains was caused by the inability of the country to export food.

Ukraine produces 80 million metric tonnes of grain each year and accounts for 6% of all food calories traded in the international market. The UN Security Council was told at a session on Thursday that the blockades are driving global hunger.

After failing to take Kyiv, Russian forces are now focused on the east of the country, including Odesa and Mariupol, which Russia now appears to control.

Russia has blocked almost all ports, so to speak, maritime opportunities to export food. Zelenskyy said a lot of things after meeting with Costa.

There will be a crisis in the world. Russia provoked the second crisis after the energy one. If we don't help the countries of Africa, Europe, Asia, which need these food products, we will create a food crisis.

He said one of the problems had a military solution and that was why they turned to their partners.

Zelenskyy thanked the President for signing a $40 billion military and humanitarian aid packet for Ukraine in a separate address to Ukrainian citizens Saturday night.

There is only 10 weeks of wheat left in the world, according to Sara Menker, a food security expert.

A UN official warned in May that 4.5 million tonnes of cargo were stuck in Ukrainian ports.