On August 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a telephone conversation with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The main topic of the discussion was the critical situation regarding the blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which is paralyzing food exports.
Request to ensure the safety of shipping routes
During the negotiations, the Ukrainian leader emphasized the possibility of involving the UAE in ensuring the safety of shipping in the Black Sea. Zelensky explicitly stated that the discussion concerned support in Europe and specifically in the Black Sea region, addressing issues of food security.
"We have just discussed how the UAE can help us in Europe, in the Black Sea region. This concerns food security and the safety of shipping routes," the President of Ukraine stated.
Port blockade and threat to exports
Currently, Russia has blocked access to all Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea. This action disrupts export chains, causing serious concern at the global level, given that Ukraine is one of the largest grain exporters.
Official position of the UAE
The official UAE news agency, WAM, also confirmed the fact of the telephone conversation; however, its report did not mention the topic of maritime security. Instead, the agency focused on strengthening cooperation between the two countries within the framework of a comprehensive economic partnership.
WAM representatives noted that the parties discussed a number of areas corresponding to mutual interests. Furthermore, the agency reported that Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the UAE leader for their involvement in the prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, as well as for their attention to the humanitarian aspects of the conflict.
