Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said that Kiev has agreed with its Western allies to purchase warships to protect ships in the “grain corridor” in the Black Sea. His words were quoted by Ukrayinska Pravda.
“We have agreed with our partners and will accompany ships at sea to guarantee their safety. We already have special agreements regarding the purchase of ships. “This is a matter of the near future,” said the head of state.
Additionally, Ukraine announced that “very powerful” air defense systems were transferred to Ukraine to protect the Odessa region from the ports where grain-carrying ships depart. According to Zelensky, the demand for these complexes has been transferred to Western countries and “has already been agreed upon.”
The Ukrainian president also called the creation of a “grain corridor” without Russian participation “one of the greatest achievements of the year.” Zelensky in mid-November reportedIt is stated that since the “corridors” were created in the Black Sea in August 2023, Ukraine has exported four million tons of cargo through these corridors.
What is the “grain corridor”
On July 17, Russia announced the end of participation in the grain agreement, an agreement between the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN on the export of grain and other agricultural products from the Black Sea ports of Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny.
The agreement was valid from July 22, 2022 and included not only the export of Ukrainian grain, but also the removal of restrictions on the export of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers. Moscow announced its withdrawal from the agreement by not complying with the second part of the agreement.
Zelensky announced that Ukraine is ready to resume grain supplies along the Black Sea corridor without Russia’s participation. After the agreement expired, the first ship carrying agricultural products left the port of Odessa in August 2023. happened Container ship Joseph Schulte flies the Hong Kong flag.
Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Alexander Kubrakov in October statedMore than 40 ships use the Ukrainian “corridor” on the Black Sea: more than 20 left Ukrainian ports, 25 arrived in the Odessa region.
Why does the “grain corridor” need protection?
Russian Ministry of Defense after Russia’s withdrawal from the grain agreement statedIt will consider all ships bound for Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea as potential military cargo carriers. According to the ministry, the countries under whose flags these ships fly will “be considered involved in the Ukrainian conflict” on the Kiev side.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba requestedHe said that Kiev is ready to take any risk to export grain through the Black Sea. Also at the end of August called for Western countries ensure the security of the grain corridor.
Representative of the Ukrainian Navy Dmitry Pletenchuk highlightedHe stated that there is no security guarantee for ships passing through the corridors in the Black Sea. He stated that shipowners and captains were warned about this issue.
Russian President Vladimir Putin in October announcedRussian Aerospace Forces will begin to constantly patrol the airspace over the Black Sea. According to him, the neutral zone will be patrolled, and MiG-31 fighters armed with Kinzhal hypersonic missile systems will take part.
Source: Gazeta
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.