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| Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (center) convenes the International Summit of the Ukrainian Food Initiative in Kiev (November 26, 2022) |
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a summit in Kiev to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the man-made famine created by former Soviet dictator Stalin in 1932 and 1933.
In his speech, Zelensky said that between 4 and 8 million Ukrainians died in that Holodomor.
Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said in a tweet that the historic event was “a genocide of the Ukrainian people” and that Russia must be held accountable for large-scale crimes.
The summit launched Zelensky’s Grain from Ukraine initiative, which exports food to countries with the worst famine and drought. In his speech, Zelensky said that Ukraine is committed to fulfilling the export of grain and other foodstuffs to the global market.
“Overall, under the Ukrainian grain program, we plan to send at least 60 ships from our ports to countries at risk of famine and drought by the end of the next spring, at least 10 per month,” Zelensky said. This is Ethiopia, these are Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Congo, Kenya, and Nigeria.
Zelensky said that this initiative confirms Ukraine’s commitment to global food security.
Ukraine has raised about $150 million from more than 20 countries and the European Union to export food to countries such as Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen, Zelensky said.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with Lithuanian and Polish counterparts in Kiev on Saturday. The prime ministers of the three Lublin Triangle countries reaffirmed their commitment to jointly oppose Russian aggression.
In a joint statement, the three prime ministers condemned “systematic war crimes committed by Russian forces in the Ukrainian region, including deliberate, indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on the civilian population and civilian infrastructure.” ”
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