"The program is indeed functioning successfully and will be expanding. I want to thank everyone who makes this possible. Today, we hear important figures, significant volumes, behind which are the most crucial – the real lives of people: children, families in various corners of the world. And it's not just Europe, which is undoubtedly very important to us. It's also Africa and Asia – the entire globe. These are countries that we have genuinely helped: Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen. [...] Already, 20 million people have been saved from hunger," said Zelensky.
According to him, Ukrainian food exports support 400 million people across 100 countries.
"Ukraine is one of the largest global donors of food security. And we maintain this significance despite everything. Despite such a colonial challenge from the Russian Federation. This war is a war against the lives of Ukrainians, against our people, our families," emphasized the President of Ukraine.
He reminded that the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the aggressor country, Russia, also began with the blockade of Ukrainian seaports by Russian ships.
"Russia understood very well what the consequences would be. They wanted these consequences, undoubtedly, a terrible outcome for the entire world – not just for Ukraine. They aimed for food prices to rise globally. And this is not merely a desire for big money, for large profits. Certainly, that exists, and it was present in Russia. But primarily, this is about power. If they can orchestrate a food catastrophe, it means they can subjugate a nation that relies on food imports – any food," believes Zelensky.
The President highlighted that during the operation of the Ukrainian food export corridor in the Black Sea (since July 2023), 321 infrastructure facilities at Ukrainian ports have been damaged by Russian missile strikes and Iranian drones.
"More than 20 vessels – ordinary civilian ships – have also been damaged under fire. And we're talking about ships from other countries. These are not Ukrainian vessels. More than 60 targeted strikes specifically on food infrastructure. Through this war against Ukraine, Russia has demonstrated that there are no countries in the world that are truly distant from one another. Everything is now very closely interconnected. There is no distance," stated Zelensky.
He emphasized that despite the combat actions and the high level of landmines in agricultural areas, Ukrainian farmers continue to work.
Zelensky recalled the Holodomor of 1932–1933, orchestrated against Ukrainians by the then authorities in Moscow.
"We do not forget that all of this happened. And we must do everything to prevent Russia, once again due to its colonial ambitions, and anyone else from committing similar catastrophes that occurred in Ukraine – similar catastrophes around the world," said the President of Ukraine.