Details of Ruto’s phone conversation with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President William Ruto and his Ukraine counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy have committed to strengthening bilateral relations between their two countries for economic prosperity.

In a statement, Zelenskyy said the agreement followed a telephone conversation with the Kenyan Head of State on Thursday, January 12.

During the meeting, the Ukraine leader said he thanked President Ruto for his constructive cooperation in the United Nations (UN) and for support as a UN Security Council member.

The two leaders also discussed matters touching on the “Grain from Ukraine” initiative, food security and the creation of grain hubs in Africa.

“Had a fruitful conversation with 🇰🇪 President @WilliamsRuto. Thanked for constructive cooperation in the UN, for support as a Security Council member. Discussed #GrainfromUkraine initiative, food security and creation of grain hubs in Africa. Agreed to enhance cooperation!” Zelenskyy said in a tweet.

Had a fruitful conversation with 🇰🇪 President @WilliamsRuto. Thanked for constructive cooperation in the UN, for support as a 🇺🇳 Security Council member. Discussed #GrainfromUkraine initiative, food security and creation of grain hubs in Africa. Agreed to enhance cooperation!

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 12, 2023

The talks come three months after Kenya received the first consignment of wheat from Ukraine since the Russian invasion about a year ago.

A vessel dubbed ‘Super Henry’ docked at the Mombasa port carrying 51,400 tonnes of wheat in October.

Ukrainian Ambassador to Kenya Andrii Pravednyk said despite its agricultural sector being adversely affected by the ongoing war, they are willing to support Kenya become food secure.

He said under the grain initiative, Ukraine plans to deliver over 1.1 million tonnes of wheat to African countries.

“It is the first shipment of Ukrainian wheat to Kenya since Russia launched a military invasion against Ukraine in February 2022. Ukraine is one of the world’s largest grain suppliers, with the share in global trade around 10 percent,” Pravednyk said.

The war against Ukraine has affected about 25 per cent of the world cereal trade, caused an increase in world prices, food inflation, and reduced access to food in the countries that import food from Ukraine, in particular wheat and sunflower oil.

In 2021, Kenya imported about 2.4 million tonnes of wheat, so Ukrainian share comprised around 15 per cent of the overall Kenyan wheat import balance.

As per UN World Food Programme Report of August 2022, 4.1 million Kenyans are acutely food insecure, which requires immediate and resolute actions.

“We are confident that arrival of “Super Henry” to the Port of Mombasa with 51,400 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat on board will bring significant relief to Kenyan consumers, helping to mitigate the prices and remove the deficit,” Pravednyk said.

Missile strikes and shelling by Russian troops has damaged and destroyed dozens of farms, stocks of food and seed, silos, warehouses, oil depots, agriculture machinery and equipment. 

At least 90 agribusinesses have been damaged in Ukraine.