European Council President Charles Michel says silos full of grain are sitting blocked in Odesa as Russian forces target the Ukrainian port with missile strikes.

Michel said during a visit to the city on the Black Sea on May 9 that stocks of grain, wheat, and corn were sitting ready for export, prompting the need for "a global response."

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"This badly needed food is stranded because of the Russian war and blockade of Black Sea ports. Causing dramatic consequences for vulnerable countries," Michel said on Twitter.

On May 2, Ukraine temporarily closed four seaports until the country "regains control over" them.

Organizations such as the United Nations have warned that Russia's war against Ukraine, a major global grain exporter, could trigger a major food crisis that will affect Europe, Asia, and Africa.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke with Michel and Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal during the Odesa visit, noting that Ukraine supplies grain to almost 400 million people on the planet.

"It is important to prevent a food crisis in the world caused by Russia's aggressive actions," Zelenskiy said.

"Immediate measures must be taken to unlock Ukrainian ports for wheat exports," he added.

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