UK working 'intensively' to export Ukraine's grain and avert global food crisis

Boris Johnson on Saturday promised Volodymyr Zelensky he was working “intensively” to export grain out of Ukraine and avert a global food crisis.

Russia's offensive in Ukraine and Western sanctions have disrupted supplies of fertiliser, wheat and other commodities, fuelling concerns about the risk of hunger around the world.

Mr Johnson, who has spoken regularly to Mr Zelensky since the beginning of the invasion, spoke about Russian President Vladimir Putin's blockade of Odessa, Ukraine's biggest shipping port.

"The Prime Minister outlined to President Zelensky the intensive work taking place with international partners to find ways to resume the export of grain from Ukraine to avert a global food crisis,” a statement from Downing Street read.

“He said that the UK would work with G7 partners to push for urgent progress. The leaders agreed on the next steps and the imperative for Russia to relax its blockade and allow safe shipping lanes.”

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, on Saturday demanded an end to Moscow’s Black Sea port blockade.

“Sanctions on Russia have no connection to the unfolding global food crisis,” he tweeted. “The sole reason for shortages, rising prices, and threat of hunger is the Russian military physically blocking 22 million tons of Ukrainian food exports in our seaports.”

Putin demands West lift sanctions to end blockade

Putin on Saturday told the leaders of France and Germany that Moscow was "ready" to look for ways to ship grain stuck in Ukrainian ports but demanded the West lift sanctions.

The Kremlin chief also warned French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz against ramping up arms supplies to Ukraine, saying they could further destabilise the situation.

Putin said the difficulties in supplying grain to world markets were the result of "erroneous economic and financial policies of Western countries".

"Russia is ready to help find options for the unhindered export of grain, including the export of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea ports," he said.

"An increase in the supply of Russian fertilisers and agricultural products will also help reduce tensions on the global food market, which, of course, will require the removal of the relevant sanctions."

On the same call, Mr Macron and Mr Scholz urged Putin to release the 2,500 Ukrainian defenders of the Azovstal steel plant who have been detained by Russian forces. The Ukrainians had held out for weeks in bunkers and tunnels before surrendering.

Russia and Ukraine produce 30 per cent of the global wheat supply.

The West has accused Putin of using hunger as a weapon in Moscow's offensive against Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has started receiving Harpoon anti-ship missiles from Denmark and self-propelled howitzers from the US, Oleksiy Reznikov, Ukraine’s Defence Minister, said on Saturday, which could help Ukrainian forces to break the sea blockade.

Mr Reznikov said Harpoon shore-to-ship missiles would be operated alongside Ukrainian Neptune missiles in the defence of the country's coast, including the southern Black Sea port of Odessa.

He said Ukraine had also received a range of heavy artillery pieces, including modified US-made M109 self-propelled howitzers that will allow the Ukrainian military to strike targets from longer distances.