Zelenskyy Pledges More Support For Africa

By Prince Kurupati 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed to continue exporting grain to the whole of the African continent. Since the inception of the Ukraine-Russia War, most African countries have lamented about the shortage of grain on the global market owing to disruptions in the global supply chain of grain. On the 25^th of November during the second international summit of the initiative “Grain from Ukraine,” President Zelenskyy declared that this will no longer be the case as hunger should not be used as a weapon against the freedom of people.

In his opening speech, President Zelenskyy said that Russia since the inception of the Ukraine-Russia War has earmarked hunger as a weapon. By weaponizing hunger and creating artificial food shortages, Russia is not just punishing Ukraine but many other global nations as the artificial food shortages affect the global supply chain.

“The stability of the food market is crucial for dozens of countries and hundreds of millions of people across the vast expanse from West Africa to East Asia,” President Zelenskyy said.

President Zelenskyy said he and the Ukrainian people know first-hand how weaponised hunger is destructive. Owing to this, he and the entire nation took it upon themselves to prevent this weapon from causing further damage to other nations. “Never again should hunger become a weapon against the freedom of people. And anyone who tries to use hunger in such a way, anyone whose terror creates chaos in the food market, must be held accountable before the entire world. Russia must be held accountable. I am confident that it will be,” he said.

The declaration by President Zelenskyy comes as a welcome remark to the African continent as Africa’s poor population accounts for 17% of the world’s total. This therefore means a huge chunk of the African population is worst affected by the disruption in the global supply chain of grain. Compounding matters is the fact that artificial food shortages have a direct bearing on the increase in food prices. This too hits hard on the continent’s most vulnerable population.

The Ukrainian President thanked all Ukrainians for their determination, courage and resolve to restore “security in the Black Sea,” something which has necessitated Ukrainian ports to reopen “for the sake of global food security”.

Thanks to the courage, dedication and fearlessness shown by Ukrainians, the country is now able to help the nations that suffer the most from food shortages. “We are providing assistance despite constant Russian terror and ongoing Russian attempts to disrupt our food exports. Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen, Kenya… They have already received over 170,000 tonnes of food thanks to our joint humanitarian initiative. This is a lifeline for millions of lives,” President Zelenskyy said.

Looking ahead to the future, President Zelenskyy said his country will avail even more grain to Africa. He said as he was speaking, his administration is already preparing to transport a grain cargo to a Nigerian port. He said the grain once it reaches the port will feed nearly 400,000 people.

The remarks by President Zelenskyy at the Grain from Ukraine international summit comes just two weeks after he addressed African media and stated that his country desires and will remain ‘a guarantor of food security’ for many countries, particularly on the African continent. He said while Russia’s antics have forced Ukraine to open another grain corridor to the rest of the world, “we have shown the world that Ukraine continues to guarantee global food security”.

“Every country has some strong areas and some areas that are just beginning to develop and are in short supply. If we are developed in agriculture and can be a guarantor, a friend, a strategic partner of African countries in this area, we are willing to do so,” President Zelenskyy said as he addressed media representatives from Angola, Botswana, Tunisia, the Republic of Guinea, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia.