ODESA, Ukraine (AP) — The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, has lamented that “silos full” of food for export is blocked in the Black Sea port of Odesa, which he visited on Monday.
The Ukrainian city has been the target of Russian missile attacks over recent days.
In a tweet, Michel said he was with Ukraine’s prime minister examining the war’s effect on the port.
“I saw silos full of grain, wheat and corn ready for export,” Michel wrote. “This badly needed food is stranded because of the Russian war and blockade of Black sea ports. Causing dramatic consequences for vulnerable countries. We need a global response.”
Ukraine is a global grain exporter, and U.N. officials have warned that failure for those products to ship will hurt food security in importing countries, especially poorer ones in Africa and elsewhere.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a statement said he spoke with Michel during the Odesa visit.
“It is important to prevent a food crisis in the world caused by Russia’s aggressive actions,” Zelenskyy said. “Immediate measures must be taken to unlock Ukrainian ports for wheat exports.”
