The large-scale war that Russia unleashed against Ukraine in February 2022 has extensively gone beyond the borders of our country and Europe. Russian aggression has not only caused enormous human suffering and thousands of deaths, but it has also had a significant negative impact on global food security. It affects every country. It endangers everyone. Ukraine has historically been recognized as a key player in terms of global food security. Our fertile soil, hardworking farmers, investments and technologies allowed us to become one of the world’s leading exporters of grain, sunflower oil, corn and other agricultural products. We have forged fruitful and mutually beneficial relationships with many countries in the Global South. About 400 million people around the world, including many on the African continent, depend on our food exports. Between 2016 and the start of the Russian aggression in 2022, Ukraine exported 92 percent of its wheat to Asia and Africa. Nowadays, Russia tries destroying our agricultural potential and our ports, thus jeopardizing the world’s food security. Over the past 100 years, Ukraine has experienced more than one famine. At least 4 million Ukrainians perished during the Holodomor of 1932-33. This was an artificial famine orchestrated by the policies of the Kremlin. The communist totalitarian regime forcibly confiscated food from Ukrainian farmers. This is a deep wound in the history of our country that continues to hurt each of us. These days, Russia is again playing “hunger games,” but this time with all countries of the world. Russia has arranged a blockade of Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, through which Ukraine has traditionally exported more than 90 percent of its agricultural products. Russia attacks Ukraine’s port infrastructure with missiles and kamikaze drones, leading to huge damage. Russia destroys grain warehouses containing Ukrainian harvests that our farmers produced from the fields, some of which are mined by the Russian army. This summer, Russia broke off the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which had allowed the export of nearly 33 million tons of agricultural products to 45 countries, 60 percent of which was delivered to Africa and Asia. In particular, the goods went to Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. We tell the countries of Africa, the Middle East and Asia: Let us not build alliances against anyone — let us build alliances for a better cause. Denys Shmyhal Thanks to Ukrainian agricultural exports, food prices have dropped by 25 percent compared to the spike in prices caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine. Now, the Kremlin is deliberately jeopardizing the entire world. Russians clearly understand the role and importance of Ukraine in the global food security chain. But this does not stop them. The latest report by UN agencies says there are 18 “hot spots” of hunger in 22 countries or territories in the world. Russia wants to take advantage of this. The Kremlin’s strategy consists of the following: The more crises it can create, the faster — it believes — it can destroy us. Ukraine seeks peace. But it is about a just and lasting peace. This is only possible on the basis of the “Peace Formula” presented by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Food security is one of the 10 elements of the Peace Formula. It states: “The issue of food security must be de-weaponized. Any actions that negatively impact food production and supply generate global risks.” It calls for free, full and safe navigation in the Black Sea and Azov Sea to be safeguarded. The Black Sea Grain Initiative and the Ukrainian humanitarian initiative known as “Grain from Ukraine” must work. They should not be threatened with attacks by missiles and kamikaze drones. We tell the countries of Africa, the Middle East and Asia: Let us not build alliances against anyone — let us build alliances for a better cause. For the sake of overcoming hunger. To make the world more secure. So that everyone in the world can provide food for their families. More than 30 countries and international organizations have already joined Ukraine’s humanitarian initiative. Ukraine has delivered 170,000 tons of its grain to Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen and Kenya. In the near future, we plan to send another 25,000 tons of grain to Nigeria. Even when facing this war, Ukraine has huge potential for developing agricultural exports. We are talking about almost 80 million tons of harvest. For domestic needs, 25 percent of the harvested grain is enough, while the rest can be exported, thus helping reduce food prices for everyone. I am confident that Ukraine and the countries of the Global South will be able to restore the supply chain of grain and other agricultural products together. We will deprive Russia of its traditional weapon — hunger, which it provoked in the 20th century and which it keeps provoking now. Ukraine believes that we can build a better world if we help each other. If we stand together against the injustice that threatens everyone. If we are united to ensure that no country in the world suffers from hunger anymore. • Denys Shmyhal is the prime minister of Ukraine. X: @Denys_Shmyhal