Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said Kyiv has reached an understanding with Western partners to procure warships to safeguard vessels operating within the Black Sea grain corridor. The remarks were quoted by Ukrayinska Pravda.
“We have aligned with our partners and will escort ships at sea to ensure their safety. We already have specific arrangements for purchasing these ships. This is a matter that will unfold in the near term”, stated the president.
In addition, Ukraine announced the transfer of very capable air defense systems to shield the Odessa region from the ports where grain ships depart. Zelensky noted that the demand for these defense systems has been conveyed to Western nations and a consensus has already been reached.
The Ukrainian leader also described the creation of a grain corridor without Russian involvement as one of the year’s major achievements. In mid November, Zelensky reported that since the corridors began operating in the Black Sea in August 2023, Ukraine had moved four million tons of cargo through them.
What is the grain corridor
On July 17, Russia announced its withdrawal from the grain agreement, a multi-party pact between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations governing the export of grain and other agricultural products from Black Sea ports including Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny.
The accord, in effect since July 22, 2022, covered not only Ukrainian grain exports but also eased restrictions on Russian agricultural products and fertilizers. Moscow said it withdrew by refusing to comply with the agreement’s second component.
Zelensky indicated Ukraine is prepared to resume grain shipments via the Black Sea corridor without Russian participation. After the pact expired, the first shipment left Odessa in August 2023, a container ship bearing the Hong Kong flag named Joseph Schulte among the vessels involved.
Infrastructure Minister Alexander Kubrakov reported in October that more than 40 ships have used the Ukrainian Black Sea corridor, with over 20 vessels departing Ukrainian ports and about 25 arriving in the Odessa region.
Why does the grain corridor need protection?
Following Russia’s withdrawal from the agreement, the Russian Ministry of Defense signaled it would treat all ships bound for Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea as potential military cargo carriers. It warned that flags flown by ship owners would be seen as taking sides in the conflict on Kyiv’s behalf.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba stated Kyiv would take any risk necessary to keep grain exports flowing and urged Western partners to guarantee the corridor’s security. A naval representative emphasized that there are no absolute security guarantees for vessels passing through the corridors in the Black Sea, and shipowners and captains have been cautioned accordingly.
President Vladimir Putin announced that Russian Aerospace Forces would maintain continuous patrols over the Black Sea airspace. He said a neutral zone would be monitored and that MiG-31 fighters equipped with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles would participate in the operations.
Notes from regional experts and industry observers in Canada and the United States indicate that protecting the grain corridor remains a priority for food security in the region, given ongoing volatility in sea routes and the potential for sanctions or political shifts to disrupt supply chains. Analysts stress the importance of clear, enforceable security arrangements and predictable access for non-Russian shippers seeking to transport grain from Ukrainian ports.