Ukraine is weighing new approaches to its grain transportation framework that do not require participation from Russia, according to statements attributed to Mykola Solsky, Ukraine’s Minister of Agricultural Policy and Food. Reuters reported these comments as the country assesses options beyond the existing grain agreement.
Solsky described the current state of the grain corridor as effectively constricted, noting that Moscow has tightened controls over vessel registrations destined for the Ukrainian port city of Yuzhny in Odessa. The result is a bottleneck that complicates shipments and raises questions about the continuity of grain exports from the region. He emphasized that Kyiv is actively planning contingencies, should these restrictions persist, and hinted at a proactive stance rather than passive acceptance if the situation does not improve in the near term.
In outlining an alternate path, Solsky explained that the second plan would operate without Russia as a participant in the arrangements. This would involve reorganizing the logistics and potential partnerships that currently depend on Moscow’s involvement, and it underscores Kyiv’s willingness to pursue a solution that preserves supply lines while reducing dependency on the fourth party in the talks. The emphasis remains on ensuring that grain and related shipments can reach global markets without disproportionate delays or political bottlenecks.
Earlier statements from the United Nations highlighted that the grain deal faced renewed suspension because Russia continued to block ship registrations at Ukrainian ports. Moscow had linked its stance to the broader issue of ammonia exports not moving forward as expected, a point that has influenced the international community’s assessment of the deal’s stability. On May 18, Moscow signaled a temporary extension of the grain agreement for two months, conditioned on the removal of obstacles to Russian grain and fertilizer supplies. Analysts noted that the extension granted some continuity for shipments, but only with the expectation that concrete steps would be taken to normalize Russian supplies. (Reuters) More details were reported in coverage from News outlets at the time, including a follow-up piece in Newspapers.Ru that provided additional context to the evolving negotiations and the respective positions of the involved parties.