Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that Western countries must act quickly to help Ukraine export its growing grain reserves, which cannot be shipped due to the Russian invasion and port blockade.

She said this in a commentary to Politico.

"It's clear that for us, what's happening right now in terms of a potential food crisis has to do with Russia's war against Ukraine. But we need to do more to show countries in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia that we are willing to share solutions," Joly said.

She warned of the need to confront the worsening global food crisis.

"Millions of tons of grain are stuck in Ukraine. We need to make sure we release Ukrainian wheat and send it to European ports for shipment," the minister said.

Joly said Canada, itself one of the world's largest grain exporters, is ready to send cargo ships as well as experts, including grain inspectors, to help move Ukrainian stocks to destinations around the world.

"We're ready to send Canadian container ships to make sure the grain can then be shipped to Egypt, Lebanon and many other countries. And that's one of the conversations I've had intensely in the EU ... especially with Romania," she said.