Guterres again calls for ensuring access for Russian and Ukrainian food exports to world markets

NEW YORK, UN. July 19 (Interfax) - The immediate resumption of food exports from Russia and Ukraine to world markets will help avoid a catastrophe in a large number of regions, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said.

"We face a real risk of multiple famines this year. And next year could be even worse. But, we can avoid this catastrophe if we act now and if we act together," Guterres said in video remarks to the UN General Assembly's special event on food security.

Over the past few months, Guterres has often warned about the risk of famine in the world if problems facing agricultural exports from Russia and Ukraine are not resolved.

"This means immediately reintegrating Ukraine's food production, and Russia's food and fertilizer, into world markets, and keeping global trade open," Guterres said.

Istanbul on July 13 hosted four-party consultations between the UN, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine on ways to unblock Ukrainian seaports to resume the export of agricultural products from Ukraine. The Russian delegation presented a package of proposals aimed at resolving the issue of agricultural exports from Ukraine as soon as possible.