Kuleba calls on the EU to expand export routes for Ukrainian grain

While Russia destroys the grain initiative, strikes at Ukrainian ports and tries to make money on food, Ukraine and the EU should make every effort to facilitate agricultural exports from Ukraine, in particular by maximizing the capacity of the Solidarity Roads transport corridors. This was stated by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday via videoconference to the EU Council of Foreign Ministers.

“Russia’s goal is not only to harm Ukraine, but also to enrich itself by raising food prices. Russia has destroyed the grain initiative, strikes at Ukrainian ports and infrastructure involved in maritime exports, and at the same time increases its own supply of grain on world markets. In other words, they are trying to eliminate Ukraine from the market as a competitor with missile attacks on the initiative and ports, forcing end buyers, bread consumers in Asia and Africa, to pay for their withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and to finance the Russian war machine,” Kuleba said, as quoted by the Foreign Ministry’s press service.

Kuleba emphasized that all alternative ways of exporting Ukrainian grain should now work at full capacity and expand, and statements about any restrictions are unacceptable.

“Under the current circumstances, it is necessary to open all doors instead of keeping some of them closed,” the minister said.

Kuleba outlined Ukraine’s specific proposals to increase the capacity of transport corridors, in particular, he called for joint development of the Danube cluster, as well as the Adriatic and Baltic transport corridors.

The minister also called on EU member states to work actively together to deprive Russia of leverage over Ukrainian maritime exports.

According to him, the ideal scenario would be a complete end to Russia’s naval blockade of Ukrainian ports. This will be possible when Ukraine receives the first F-16 squadrons that will be able to patrol the skies and sea lanes. The Minister expressed his gratitude to those EU countries that are already actively contributing to the aviation coalition and called for the implementation of all procedures as soon as possible.

“Today, Ukraine has proposed to the UN and Turkey to continue the work of the grain corridor in a trilateral format, including ship inspections at the Joint Coordination Center. We are waiting for their response. I urge you to support our request in your interaction with the UN and the Secretary-General,” he urged.

Tags: Ukraine, export, grain, EU, Black Sea grain corridor