Ukraine Urges Renewal of Grain Export Agreement

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on Thursday for the renewal of the grain export agreement through the Black Sea to address global food insecurity. Kuleba, on his first visit to Islamabad since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1993, stated that "Russia has undermined global food security." He mentioned, "We had to find a way to export our grain to the global market," adding that "the full amount of grain available for export cannot be shipped via land routes, which means that prices will rise due to delivery difficulties." Kuleba highlighted that "the sea is the best way to transport grain and foodstuffs to the global market, which has seen an increase in commodity prices since the Russian invasion last year." His Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari supported his statements, saying that he "intends to discuss the matter with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres." Zardari noted, "It is not only in our interest but in the interest of the world to reinstate the grain initiative."