- Zelenskyy warned that Ukraine's harvest could be cut in half this year.
- Ukraine and Russia account for almost a third of global wheat supplies.
- Countries in the Middle East and North Africa heavily depend on Ukraine for grain.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Ukraines harvet would be cut in half this year.
"Our main goal — to prevent global food crisis caused by Russian invasion," Zelensky said in a tweet on Sunday. "Still grains find a way to be delivered alternatively."
—Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 31, 2022
Ukraine is considered the world's "breadbasket" and Russia and Ukraine combined account for almost a third of the world's wheat exports.
Russia invasion of Ukraine has contributed to a global food crisis. Countries in the Middle East and Northern Africa depend on cheap wheat being imported from Ukraine. The cost of wheat has skyrocketed as supplies from Ukraine decreased.
Earlier this month, the UN World Food Programme warned that the war in Ukraine was contributing to a food crisis across the globe.
"Ukraine has pushed the number marching to starvation to 345m people, and 50m are knocking on famine's door in 45 nations. It's critical we all step up and act NOW to avert multiple famines, destabilization and mass migration," David Beasley, the executive director of the UN World Food Programme said in a tweet.
Last week, Russia and Ukraine reached a deal in Turkey to allow Ukraine to export grain through the Black Sea. The BBC reported that around 20 million tonnes of grain is stuck in Ukraine.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the agreement a "a beacon of hope, possibility & relief."
"It will help avoid a food shortage catastrophe for millions worldwide," Guterres said in a tweet.