Ukraine requests urgent SC meeting after Russian attacks in Black Sea

Ukraine has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on July 27, following Russian attacks on ships in the Black Sea, Ukraine's acting Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced.

In a statement published on the social network X, Sybiha said that at least three civilian cargo ships have been attacked in recent days, while "several dozen" crew members have been killed or injured.

He stressed that no ships passed through the Ukrainian sea corridor in the Black Sea yesterday, right at the peak of the harvest season.

"This is a deliberate form of economic and humanitarian terror. Russia is holding global food security hostage," Sybiha wrote, calling on states, especially those affected by the situation, to immediately demand an end to Russian attacks on freedom of navigation in the Black Sea.

According to him, "no country has the right to lead the world to hunger" and only pressure from the international community can put an end to these actions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also called for increased pressure on Moscow and the imposition of tougher sanctions.

"In the long term there will be sanctions, in the medium term there will be strikes, while on the front lines we will maintain strong positions. All of these will be realized," he declared in his evening speech.

Zelensky also announced that he met with the US Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, with whom he discussed the Patriot air defense systems.

"We need missiles to protect the lives of our people. There can be no shortage of missiles to neutralize ballistic missiles, as has happened in recent months. It is important that our partners help us," the Ukrainian president said.

He added that he has also held talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to revive diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war.

Ukraine has been facing full Russian occupation for more than four years.