Ukraine grain deal needed to feed world, says head of World Food Programme

The head of the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that it will be difficult to feed the world if Russia pulls out of the Ukraine grain deal.

Cindy McCain told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that the deal, which is due to expire on 18 May, must be renewed.

The export agreement has allowed Ukraine to transport millions of tonnes of food despite the ongoing conflict.

The deal was brokered by the UN and Turkey last July.

It was agreed to help tackle a global food crisis after access to Ukraine's ports in the Black Sea was blocked by Russian warships following the invasion in February 2022.

Ukraine is a major global exporter of sunflower, maize, wheat and barley, and more than half of the wheat grain procured by the WFP last year came from there.

At the same time, the UN also agreed to help Moscow facilitate its own agricultural shipments.