Third International Summit on Food Security in Kiev: Ukraine committed to strengthen its presence in Africa

 

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky speaking during Third International Food Security Summit

 

 

The capilat of the Republic of Ukraine, Kiev, hosted on November 23, 2024, the Third International Food Security Summit under the humanitarian programme "Grain from Ukraine." The event took place on Ukraine’s Holodomor Remembrance Day.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky attended the summit as well as, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, and Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitalii Koval. Addresses to the summit participants were delivered by the Presidents of Switzerland, Estonia, Costa Rica, and Lithuania; the Prime Ministers of Iceland, Cabo Verde, Luxembourg, Portugal, Finland, Croatia, Sweden, and Japan; as well as the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Other speakers included the First Lady of Belize, officials from over 25 countries, and representatives of leading international organizations, including the UN World Food Programme, FAO, UNICEF, UNCTAD, USAID, and others.

 

European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, Lithuanian Deputy Minister of Agriculture Laura Ramanauskaitė, Belgian Special Representative for Ukraine Jan De Pau, and Greek Special Representative for Ukraine Spyridon Lambrinidis were among those who traveled to Kyiv to participate in the summit.

World leaders, ministers, representatives of international organizations, and leading experts marked their participation to this important international gathering which serves as an important platform to promote international cooperation in delivering food to countries suffering from hunger and to discuss ways to overcome global challenges in food security.

 

Participants expressed the need to implement innovative technologies that will increase the efficiency of agricultural production, conserve natural resources, and create sustainable food systems capable of adapting to climate change and global challenges.

Russia's ongoing aggression was also on the list of the topic for discussion, a conflict that has inflicted significant losses on Ukraine’s agricultural sector and heavily impacted the global food market. 

 

Participants emphasized that deliberate attacks on Ukraine's port infrastructure and grain storage facilities, as well as the blocking of grain exports, threaten the food security of millions worldwide.

During a Panel discussion, President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to questions from journalists from Africa and Latin America, each coming from different countries visiting Ukraine. 

 

The Ukrainian head of state stressed that Ukraine values its partnerships with countries around the world and remains committed to its role as a reliable donor of global food security. He also stressed that when it comes to the African continent, the will of being present and supporting the people of Africa is vital. 

 

“When it comes to Ukrainian government working with the African countries, we have committed to strengthen Ukrainian presence in Africa, and this is what is happening, I signed decree to open 10 additional embassies in the African continent, 7 of them already opened, and 3 are expected soon, the presence of Ukraine is now stronger and there is specific emphasis on each country” said Volodymyr Zelensky.

Amid difficulties due to the war with Russia and challenges linked to this particular situation, the Ukrainian government continues to be a key guarantor of global food security by creating alternative logistical corridors and calling for international solidarity against the use of hunger as a weapon against civilians.

 

Talking about the African continent the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky underlined “I believe it is very important that Ukraine is still guarantying food security and also Ukraine wants to keep and increase its presence not only politically, we are interested in economy as well, so the task is set to work in parallel with the launch of new embassies”.

Participating countries announced further financial support for the "Grain from Ukraine" programme, amounting to approximately $44 million.

Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Editor