Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday announced the Grain from Ukraine initiative, which seeks to facilitate delivery of grain to nations facing food insecurity.
"Even as the country struggles with food shortages, devastated farmland, and widespread blackouts, we will never forget our role as a responsible global citizen -- especially having experienced famine as a nation ourselves," Zelensky said in a statement.
He was referring to the Holodomor famine, in which millions of Ukrainians starved to death at the hands of the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin's policy of seizing grain.
"Africa is in desperate need of food and Ukraine stands ready to support vulnerable people in their hour of need," the president added.
Zelensky urges residents to be frugal with power use ahead of harsh winter