Italy hopes deal to export grain from Ukrainian ports will be renewed

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that she hoped the agreement on grain exports from Ukrainian ports would be renewed, a Rome government's statement said on Friday.

"The deal is crucial to avert a possible food crisis," the government said.

In a phone call with the Ukrainian leader, Meloni reiterated Italy's full support to Kyiv and said Italy would contribute to diplomatic efforts to stop "the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine," the statement added.

(Reporting by Angelo Amante, editing by Gianluca Semeraro)