Switzerland Joins Grain From Ukraine Initiative
Switzerland will allocate 3 million francs (over 3 million euros) to support the Grain From Ukraine initiative through the World Food Programme. This was reported by the Swiss Embassy in Ukraine on Twitter (X).
The initiative is aimed at providing food to the world's poorest countries that depend on imports of Ukrainian grain. As a result of Russian aggression, Ukraine cannot export grain across the Black Sea, which has led to a global food crisis.
The Swiss funds will be used to purchase and deliver Ukrainian grain to countries that need it.
This assistance is an important step in maintaining food security in the world. It will help prevent millions of people from going hungry.
"During the food security summit in Kyiv, Swiss President Alain Berset announced that Switzerland will contribute to the relief effort by transferring 3 million francs to the World Food Programme," the statement said.
Grain From Ukraine is a humanitarian food programme officially launched on 26 November 2022, the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor of 1932-1933, by the President of Ukraine to supply grain to the poorest countries in Africa. The programme aims to provide grain to at least 5 million people by the end of spring 2023.
In July 2022, the Black Sea Grain Agreement was signed by the UN, Turkey and Ukraine, and a mirror agreement was signed between the UN and Russia on the safe export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.
However, in July 2023, Russia unilaterally withdrew from the grain agreement and began firing missiles at Ukrainian ports and merchant ships carrying grain.
So now Ukraine will receive warships from its partners to protect grain ships in the Black Sea.
And the European Commission will allocate €50 million to rebuild Ukraine's port infrastructure, which was damaged by Russian missile strikes.
In addition, the Swedish government will allocate more than EUR 8.7 million through the World Food Programme for the Grain From Ukraine initiative.
As part of the Grain from Ukraine initiative, Lithuania will allocate €2 million by the end of this year and is ready to increase the transit capacity of its ports for Ukrainian exports.
As The Gaze previously reported, Ukraine secured $100 million in export contracts for Ukrainian grain during the second international Grain from Ukraine summit held in Kyiv on 25 November.
The event was aimed at strengthening Ukraine's role as a guarantor of food security, consolidating efforts to ensure global food security and developing alternative logistics routes for agricultural exports from the country.