Zelenskyy Raises Civilian Casualties and Global Food Security Risks in Call With UN Chief
August 21, 2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he held a telephone conversation with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday, discussing Russia’s continuing strikes on Ukraine, civilian casualties and the wider consequences of attacks on ports and vessels.
According to Zelenskyy’s account, he briefed the UN chief on the ongoing attacks and the loss of civilian lives. Guterres, he said, condemned the large-scale strikes affecting Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities and communities.
The conversation also focused on concerns extending beyond the immediate battlefield. Zelenskyy said Russian attacks on port infrastructure and vessels were creating risks for food security, with potential consequences being felt across parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Food Prices and Supply Concerns
Ukraine is a major supplier of agricultural commodities to international markets, making disruptions to its maritime export infrastructure an issue with implications beyond the country’s borders.
Zelenskyy said the impact of the attacks was already being observed in several countries, where food prices have begun to rise. Recent reporting has likewise highlighted growing concerns over disruptions to Black Sea shipping and agricultural exports.
The issue has attracted international attention because continued attacks on ports and commercial shipping can complicate the movement of agricultural products from the wider Black Sea region to overseas markets.
UN Role in Efforts to End the War
Zelenskyy also said the discussion covered efforts to find a path toward ending the war. He argued that diplomatic efforts should continue despite the current difficulties surrounding negotiations.
The Ukrainian president said both sides agreed that the search for possible solutions would continue and that the United Nations would contribute to the effort.
The UN has previously been involved in diplomatic initiatives connected with the Ukraine conflict, including discussions concerning civilian infrastructure, Black Sea shipping and food security. In July, the UN Security Council also addressed concerns surrounding attacks on civilian infrastructure and commercial vessels in the Black Sea.
Black Sea Attacks Have Broader Implications
The latest discussion comes amid heightened military activity involving Ukrainian and Russian infrastructure around the Black Sea. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that attacks affecting ports and ships could have consequences for international food supplies.
Recent reports have also pointed to growing pressure on maritime trade and grain exports, particularly for countries in Africa and the Middle East that depend on supplies from the Black Sea region.
The developments underline how the consequences of the Russia-Ukraine war extend beyond the battlefield. Damage to transport infrastructure, restrictions on shipping and interruptions to agricultural exports can influence international commodity markets and food costs.
For the United Nations, the challenge is therefore not limited to the immediate humanitarian impact of the fighting. The conflict continues to raise wider concerns involving civilian protection, international trade, food security and diplomatic efforts to achieve an end to hostilities.
