• Petrenko said it is essential to “hear the voice of the respected GCC organization on food security” issues

Arab News

RIYADH: The secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council said member countries support peaceful efforts aimed at resolving the Russia-Ukraine crisis on Thursday.

Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi also stressed the importance of renewing the Black Sea grain deal which Russia quit on July 17.

Th pact, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022, had allowed the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain for the past year.

Under the deal, which aimed to combat a global food crisis worsened by Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, nearly 33 million tonnes of Ukraine grain was exported.

Albudaiwi made the remarks during a meeting with Ukraine’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Anatolii Petrenko in Riyadh.

GCC-Ukrainian relations were also discussed during the meeting.

After the meeting, Petrenko said it is essential to “hear the voice of the respected GCC organization on food security issues.”

“Our partnership will play crucial role in ensuring reliable supplies of food stuffs to the countries in need,” he added.