Pope Francis expressed serious concern over the suspension of wheat exports from Ukraine due to the blockade of ports on which the lives of millions of people depend, especially in the poorest countries.

In conclusion of his public interview with the faithful in St. Peter’s Square, he stated: “I make a warm appeal to make every effort to solve this problem and guarantee the universal human right to food, and please do not use wheat, the staple food, as a weapon on war.”

It should be noted that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba previously believed that the best solution to free up his country’s grain exports in order to avoid a global food crisis is “an international operation in the Black Sea with the help of willing friendly countries.” ships for water treatment and escorting the passage of goods, starting from Odessa.

Russian President Vladimir Putin linked the resumption of export operations with the lifting of Western sanctions imposed on his country.