Statement 

by the Delegation of Ukraine 

at the United Nations Security Council High-Level Open Debate “Framing the Global Dialogue: Addressing Food Insecurity as a Driver of Conflict and Ensuring Food Security for Sustainable Peace”

(18 November 2025)

Mr. President, 

We thank the Sierra Leone Presidency for organizing today’s important high level debate. We are also grateful to briefers for their valuable insights.

Ukraine continues to play an important role in ensuring global food security. Before the full-scale invasion in February 2022, our country produced enough food to feed hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Even today, under constant attacks, Ukraine remains a reliable supplier of grain and agricultural products to global markets, including many countries in Africa most vulnerable to food insecurity.

Our humanitarian initiative “Grain from Ukraine”, implemented together with almost three dozen partner governments and UN agencies, has already delivered 320,000 tonnes of Ukrainian grain to 18 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

On 19 November, Kyiv will host the Fourth International Summit on Food Security “Food from Ukraine”, which will mark the transformation of our humanitarian effort from “Grain from Ukraine” to a broader “Food from Ukraine” initiative. This new stage envisages expanding from grain to a wider basket of processed foods, ready-to-use products, and essential supplies that can be rapidly delivered in emergencies. It will shift from one-off aid to mutually beneficial cooperation by developing local processing, storage, and logistics capacities, thereby accelerating delivery, reducing losses, and strengthening partners’ self-sufficiency. It will further aim to support countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through technology transfer, joint agricultural projects, and investments in local value chains to boost productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, and build long-term resilience.

Mr. President,

Ukraine continues to face Russia’s deliberate attacks on civilian and food-related infrastructure. Russian missiles and drones have repeatedly struck our port facilities, grain terminals, warehouses, and logistics routes. Large areas of agricultural land remain mined or contaminated with explosive remnants of war. Yet despite these challenges, Ukrainian farmers continue to cultivate land, harvest crops, and contribute to food security not only for Ukraine but for the world.

Food must never be used as a weapon. Attacks on food systems, as condemned by the respective Security Council resolutions, are attacks on global stability. Accountability for such actions is essential. Equally essential is strengthening the resilience of food systems — through humanitarian demining, secure transport corridors, climate-smart agriculture, market access, and inclusive community support, especially for women and youth.

Ukraine stands ready to continue working with all partners to prevent hunger, support sustainable peace, and help build a global system where food insecurity is no longer a driver of conflict.

I thank you.