UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that the first grain shipment from the Ukrainian port of Odessa is an "important starting point," and it must be the first of many more ships that bring relief to global markets.

Earlier in the day, the first vessel headed to Lebanon from Odessa after the UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal's signature on July 22.

"What we’ve witnessed today in Odessa is an important starting point. It must be the first of many commercial ships bringing relief and stability to global food markets," Guterres said, adding that the World Food Programme will make an announcement concerning Ukrainian grain.

"In line with the humanitarian spirit of the initiative, the World Food Programme is planning to purchase, load and ship an initial 30,000 metric tons of wheat out of Ukraine on a UN-chartered vessel. WFP will have more details in the coming days."

Guterres once again urged the Ukraine conflict parties to cease hostilities, insisting that the war "must end, and peace must be established, in line with the Charter of the United Nations and international law."

Ukraine claim of stealing wheat to send it to Lebanon, Syria refuted

Earlier, an official at a Turkey-based grains trading company denied Ukrainian claims that the cargo of barley and flour aboard a ship that docked at a Lebanon port was stolen from Ukraine, contending that the source was Russia.

The official, who works for Loyal Agro Co LTD, told Reuters that the company had sought to bring 5,000 tons of flour to Lebanon to sell to private customers, and not to the Lebanese government.

Lebanese government officials were inaccessible for comment.

This comes after an announcement to send 49,000 tons of wheat to Lebanon by the end of the week, according to Economy Minister Amin Salam.

The Minister said that this supply would assist with eliminating the grain deficit which the country has been suffering from for months.