Ukraine Seeks Pressure on Russia Over Blockaded Grain Exports
Ukraine is calling on its international partners to increase pressure on Russia to restore Black Sea shipping routes used for agricultural exports, according to Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. He stated that Russia's blockade of Ukraine's maritime export corridor poses a serious threat to global food security.
Sybiha recalled that the disruption of Black Sea shipping in 2022 caused the global food price index to surge by 25%. He emphasized that Russian attacks target not only Ukrainian port infrastructure but also civilian merchant vessels and foreign seafarers serving on their crews.
In response, Ukraine is stepping up cooperation under the EU's Solidarity Lanes initiative to expand alternative grain export routes to global markets. The country is holding consultations with Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland on increasing transit capacity for Ukrainian grain destined for third-country markets through neighboring countries.