Kiev (EFE).- Ukraine, after ensuring the political consent of its partners, will continue to supply grain to other countries despite Russia’s withdrawal from the “grain agreement”, reported today the Department of Strategic Communications of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
In a message on Facebook, he recalls that a year ago the agreement on the security of the so-called “cereal corridor” was signed in Istanbul, which unblocked the export of food and cereals from three Black Sea ports, and that a year later, Russia announced its withdrawal from it.
“However, the Ukrainian state has its own plan. After securing the political consent of partner countries, particularly Turkey, and the confidence of insurers, Ukraine is ready to pave its economic path. We will continue to help other countries around the world, because only with joint struggle and mutual support will we achieve victory”, she affirms.
He also recalls that before the Russian invasion, Ukraine was the fifth largest grain exporter in the world and that “Russia’s terrorist actions and the blockade of Ukrainian ports caused a global rise in grain prices.”
“According to the UN, grain shortages and rising food prices have put 50 million people at risk of starvation. The terrorist state of Russia threatens with its actions the survival of entire nations of Africa and the Middle East, ”he underlines.
He specified that Russia had long used the blockade of maritime exports as a tool of pressure on Ukraine and the West, but with the signing of the agreement, the Kremlin’s opportunities to “blackmail world hunger” were reduced.
A Joint Coordination Center was established in Istanbul, under the auspices of the UN, for overall supervision and coordination, it adds, noting that “throughout the year, the initiative enabled the shipment of more than 33 million tons of grain, saving many countries from famine.”
“At the same time, the deal brought more than $20 billion to Ukraine’s budget, which remarkably strengthened the Ukrainian economy,” he adds.
The statement recalls that the agreement was signed by four parties: the UN, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey.
In a recent interview, Ukrainian President Volodomir Zelensky pointed out that there are two agreements: one between Ukraine, Turkey and the UN and another between Russia, Turkey and the UN, and that the first is still in force, so Kiev is willing to keep the grain corridor running.