EU and UN Discuss Food Security

European Union leaders held talks on Thursday with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres regarding global food security and sanctions imposed on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. They are expected to endorse a plan to supply Kyiv with more artillery shells. Guterres' participation in the EU summit comes days after the extension of an agreement mediated by the UN and Turkey for the safe export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, which is viewed as crucial to overcoming the global food crisis. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to inform the 27 EU leaders about the latest developments in the war in his country. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated upon his arrival for the two-day summit: "We need to ensure the continued export of grains, for example from Ukraine." Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas opposed any easing of sanctions on Moscow under the grain deal and called for stricter price caps on Russian oil exports. The EU has allocated one billion euros ($1.1 billion) for urgent supply of shells and possibly missiles from existing stockpiles, and another billion euros for joint requests from EU countries for additional shells. The funds will come from the European Peace Facility, a fund managed by the EU, which was initially set up with five billion euros. The EU has already provided an additional two billion euros for further military assistance to Ukraine.