Published on: 2026-09-23
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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September 22, 2026 Peace and Security
Attacks on ports and civilian vessels in the Black Sea threaten the supply of Ukrainian grain and may lead to rising food prices far beyond Europe. This was discussed on Tuesday at a meeting at the UN headquarters dedicated to freedom of navigation and global food security.
The meeting was chaired by the head of the European Union diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, together with the foreign ministers of France and Romania.
According to Kallas, Ukraine supplies about 10 percent of exported wheat and 15 percent of corn to the global market. Approximately 90 percent of its agricultural exports are transported through the Black Sea. However, due to increased Russian attacks, commercial shipping has come under threat, and the export of products via this route, Kallas stated, has effectively ceased.
“Food must never be used as a weapon,” she emphasized. Kallas called for diplomatic efforts to ensure the safe passage of civilian vessels and to protect port infrastructure.
Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu described how her country helps deliver Ukrainian products to global markets through the Black Sea port of Constanța. According to her, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, nearly 60 million tons of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products have passed through Romania. The country has expanded the capabilities of the port, as well as road, rail, and river routes.
But they cannot fully replace shipments through the Black Sea, Tsoi emphasized. “What is happening in the Black Sea has consequences far beyond the region,” the minister said, noting that export disruptions increase pressure on food markets in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. She supported the proposal for a moratorium on attacks affecting food supplies.
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United Nations Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher emphasized that civilians and civilian objects must be protected by all parties. When ports and vessels are threatened, the consequences are felt by people in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. “People who are not involved in this war at all are paying the price for it,” he said.
According to Fletcher, the restoration of safe movement for civilian vessels should not wait for a broader political settlement. The UN is ready to work with all parties on practical arrangements. He recalled that such an experience already exists: the Black Sea Grain Initiative allowed Ukrainian foodstuffs to be shipped by sea even during wartime.
World Food Programme representative Rania Dagash-Kamara reported that today 266 million people worldwide face acute food shortages. Disruptions in transportation through the Black Sea and other important maritime routes are driving up prices for food and fuel. If they continue, it will be harder for farmers to prepare for the next harvest, she warned.
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