STORY: A total 14 ships have now departed from Ukraine over the past two weeks, following the deal with Russia to allow a resumption of grain exports from Ukraine's Black Sea ports, after they were stalled for five months due to the war.

The agreement, brokered by the United Nations along with Turkey, was reached last month amid fears that the loss of Ukrainian grain supplies would lead to severe food shortages and even outbreaks of famine in parts of the world.

''It is the first ship (to arrive in Italy) since the start of Russia's unjustified war against Ukraine. It is a symbolic and very important day because it is a very important signal not only for the local market but also for the global market'', Ukrainian ambassador in Italy, Yaroslav Melnyk, said at the port.

Ukraine, along with Russia, accounted for nearly a third of global wheat exports before Feb. 24, when Moscow launched what it describes as a "special operation" to demilitarize its neighbour.