Ukraine-Russia war latest LIVE: World hunger ‘at new high’ as Putin’s invasion chokes supplies, UN warns

WORLD hunger levels “are at a new high” the secretary-general of the United Nations has warned today. Antonio Guterres was speaking at a meeting of world leaders called to discuss the escalating food security crisis. He said the number of people facing severe food insecurity had doubled in just two years – from 135 million before the coronavirus pandemic to 276 million today. “The complex security, economic and financial implications require goodwill on all sides for a package deal to be reached,” Mr Guterres said. “I will not go into details because public statements could undermine the chances of success. “There is still a long way to go,” he said. The situation has been made worse in recent months by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine and Russia produce almost a third of the world’s wheat and barley, and half of its sunflower oil. Before the war, Ukraine was one of the biggest contributors to the UN World Food Programme, supplying enough grain to feed 400 million people. Follow our Russia-Ukraine live blog below for up-to-the-minute updates…