Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday requested Chile’s support in his country’s efforts to ensure world food stability, whose exports are blocked by Russia, which invaded Ukraine more than a year ago.
Zelenskyy spoke virtually before the Chilean Congress, whose leaders reiterated the South American country’s support for Ukraine and condemnation of the Russian invasion. It is the first time that the Ukrainian president has spoken before a Latin American parliament.
Zelenskyy’s presentation to Congress, which began with the interpretation of the anthems of both countries, comes two weeks after he had an online conversation with Chilean President Gabriel Boric.
“I invite you to support our efforts for world food security… Because large areas of our country are contaminated with mines or are in the bombing zones” by Russians, Zelenskyy said.
He added that Russia is blocking “our ports and shipping in the Black Sea”, so the food market is destabilized.
Among the main Ukrainian exports before the war were seed oils, wheat and corn.
The Ukrainian president pointed out that “we have managed to unlock a part of (the) supplies, but the world needs more, so that the market volumes and prices of groceries” are stable.
He asserted that with the support of the weapons sent by Ukraine’s allies they have managed to liberate some 1,900 towns and cities, but a similar number remains to be liberated.
The idea of the Congress to listen to Zelenskyy had been around for months, but it had not materialized because not all the parties were in agreement, including the Chilean Communist Party, which is part of the government coalition closest to Boric.
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