UK To Give Ukraine Railways £10m Help To Get Grain Out

Boris Johnson's government is pledged £10m to help rebuild Ukraine's railways in a bid to use trains to export grain trapped by Vladimir Putin's blockade in the Black Sea.

- Adam Forrest

The prime minister is set to call on fellow leaders to take urgent action to get essential food supplies out of Ukraine at the G7 Summit in Germany today.

Mr Johnson said the United Nations' plan to get the grain out of Ukraine is a "non-starter" because Russia will continue to use food supply as a bargaining chip to ease sanctions.

The PM argued that allies need to now consider plan B, as he pledged British expertise to help de-mine the Black Sea and upgrade rail infrastructure.

"Global leaders need to come together and apply their combined economic and political heft to help Ukraine and make life easier for households across the world - nothing should be off the table," he said.

Russia's actions have driven up global food prices, and aid charities have warned that the ongoing blockade has placed 47 million people around the world on the brink of a humanitarian disaster.