Ukraine ready to discuss steps to resolve food crisis - head of Zelensky's Office

MOSCOW. Aug 18 (Interfax) - Ukraine stands ready to engage in substantive discussions with international institutions and partners on steps that will help other states in conditions of the food crisis and will help make the Ukrainian economy stronger, Head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's Office Andriy Yermak said.

"We are open and ready for cooperation in all matters that take our national interests into account and do not harm our country," Ukrainian media quoted Yermak as saying in a statement circulated by the Ukrainian presidential press service following Yermak's meeting with Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Rebeca Grynspan.

The Ukrainian official noted the UN's role and the personal leadership of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in achieving the agreement on resuming agricultural exports from Ukrainian ports and in starting to put this deal into practice.

Grynspan, in turn, thanked Ukraine for its readiness to cooperate, particularly in today's difficult conditions. The food crisis is an extremely serious challenge, especially for certain countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, she said.