On July 4, 2024, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Iryna Borovets held a meeting with newly appointed representative and director of the World Food Program Office in Ukraine, Richard Reagan.

The Deputy Minister congratulated Richard Reagan on beginning his mission in Ukraine and emphasized readiness to strengthen cooperation between Ukraine and the World Food Program (WFP).

Iryna Borovets noted the significant role of humanitarian aid provided to Ukraine through WFP in minimizing the consequences of Russian aggression in the food sector and confirmed the importance of implementing programs related to humanitarian demining and agricultural land clearance in the recovery areas.

In the context of ensuring global food security, parties highlighted the importance of the Government of Ukraine's efforts to provide agricultural assistance to countries suffering from a difficult humanitarian situation. Iryna Borovets called on WFP to continue supporting the Grain from Ukraine Initiative launched by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reduce the damage that Russian aggression has caused to the global food system, including attempts to block Ukrainian ports.

The Deputy Minister drew attention to the activities of the Government of Ukraine and the First Lady of Ukraine aimed at further school feeding reform and invited the WFP representative in Ukraine to participate in national events held jointly with the School Feeding Coalition and School Health Research Consortium.

For reference: the World Food Program is a UN humanitarian organization that works in more than 120 countries and territories. In 2023, the WFP provided assistance to approximately 152 million people. World Food Program operated in Ukraine until 2018 and resumed operations in March 2022. WFP provides food assistance in areas close to the frontline and supports institutions such as hospitals, centers for displaced persons, and social centers with food, etc. WFP in Ukraine also provides cash assistance to the population and implements a program to support school meals by partially covering the cost of school meals for primary school children in 13 regions of Ukraine. In total, over the past almost 2.5 years, WFP has implemented assistance projects in Ukraine worth more than $1.16 billion, which has helped support Ukraine's economy.