Ukraine was elected to the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the elections held during the 44th Session of the FAO Conference in Rome, Italy on June 28 – July 4, 2025.

Ukraine’s election opens new opportunities for our country to actively contribute to shaping the international agenda aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural development, addressing climate change, combating hunger, and responding to the challenges caused by the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

Ukraine will continue to be a reliable partner of the FAO, firmly committed to the principles of sustainable development, international solidarity, and innovative approaches to addressing global challenges in agriculture, food systems, and the transformation of food security.

It is also noteworthy that Russia and Belarus, which submitted their candidates for the FAO Council at the last minute, were not elected. FAO Member States did not support their bids for membership in this governing body.

This decision demonstrates the importance of keeping Moscow`s international isolation. There is no place for the aggressor and its supporters in the governing bodies of reputable international organizations. 

Russia’s loss was a natural consequence of its deliberate use of food as a weapon, the theft of Ukrainian grain from temporarily occupied territories, the destruction of agricultural infrastructure in Ukraine, systematic shelling of Ukrainian ports, and the destabilization of global food markets.

We sincerely thank the FAO Member States for supporting Ukraine’s candidacy. The mandate granted is a sign of trust and a testament to the international standing of our country, which is making every possible effort to strengthen global food security - even in a time of extraordinary challenges as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity.