Poland may join fight against global famine says president

Andrzej Duda, the Polish president, did not rule out his country joining the fight against global famine if Ukrainian agricultural exports continued to be blocked by Russia.

Speaking at an agricultural competition on Friday, Duda said that the war in Ukraine could disrupt global food supply because "on many markets Ukraine constituted the core of imports of grain, sunflower oil and many other agricultural products.

Since the Russian attack against Ukraine in late February, Ukraine's exports of agricultural products through the traditional Black Sea route have been blocked. Russian President Vladimir Putin said recently he may release the shipments if the West drops the sanctions it imposed on Moscow for invading its neighbour.

"Today we're probably joining the fight against famine in the world," Duda said. "Perhaps your produce, what you harvest from the fields this year, will go to Africa, South America and many other places where it will save lives," the president told farmers present at the competition gala.