Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced a concerning assessment of the situation regarding the export of agricultural products. During a joint briefing with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin on July 23, the head of state stated that Russia is taking all possible steps to completely block the grain corridors.
Complete Halt of Shipping
According to the Ukrainian leader, the threat was evident several months ago, but the scale of the attacks has been confirmed in practice. Zelenskyy reported that the day before, not a single ship was able to enter Ukrainian ports. Russian forces, he said, are striking all ships, and the trend of increasing attack intensity persists.
"They will increase this. Understanding this, we saw the plans of the 'Russians' a couple of months ago," the president noted. In this regard, Kyiv has already decided to appoint a separate official who will deal exclusively with logistics and the protection of grain exports.
Critical Importance of Logistics
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that agriculture, energy, and logistics are vital sectors for the country. Currently, the entry of ships into ports has been temporarily suspended due to new attacks on civilian vessels. The Ukrainian government is already preparing solutions to restore shipping and ensure the safety of maritime transport.
Searching for Alternative Routes
In the face of the threat of blocking the Black Sea corridor, Ukraine is actively seeking bypass routes. In particular, Kyiv has discussed alternative grain export routes through Moldovan territory with Chisinau. These negotiations aim to minimize risks for the agricultural sector and ensure the uninterrupted export of products to global markets.
