Greece has announced its willingness to provide ships to help export grain from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, blocked by Russia amidst continuous conflict since February.

On Thursday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece “has a special role to play in this effort as it controls the world’s largest merchant fleet.”

“Greece, once again, is offering to help and support any effort made, under the auspices of the United Nations, in order for the grain currently trapped in Ukraine, primarily in Odessa, to leave Ukraine and eventually end up in the countries that need it today, ” Mr Mitsotakis said.

Ukraine provides 10 per cent of the world’s wheat, 14 per cent of the world’s corn, and 47 per cent of all sunflower oil on the planet. According to the International Food Policy Research Institute, Luhansk and Donetsk make up about five per cent of Ukraine’s barley production, eight per cent of wheat production, nine per cent of sunflower seed production, and maize production

The war, which began in February, disrupted global supply chains and saw multiple hikes in food prices. On Tuesday, the European Union committed €600 million to counter the war’s impacts on food security.