Infrastructure Ministry: Ukraine ready to continue exporting grain to ensure food security
Ukraine remains a reliable partner for the civilized world and is ready to continue shipping agricultural products to ensure global food security.
In its statement released on Facebook, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine outlined its stance on Russia's decision to withdraw from the Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports.
"We would like to emphasize that the implementation of the Initiative is exclusively humanitarian in nature. That is why the Ukrainian side did not stop the corridor even after Russian attacks on July 23 (the day after the signing of the Initiative), on September 23 – [the attack] on the port of Odesa, as well as recent attacks on the energy infrastructure which cut the port infrastructure power off," reads the statement.
From August 1, from the moment the first ship left the Ukrainian port of Odesa until today, Ukraine has managed to export more than 9 million tonnes of foodstuffs, of which more than 5 million tonnes – to the countries of Africa and Asia. As part of the UN World Food Programme, 190,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat were delivered to countries on the brink of famine.
"At the same time, we emphasize that Ukraine remains a reliable partner for the civilized world and is ready to continue promptly collecting and shipping agricultural products to ensure global food security," the Ministry of Infrastructure added.
As reported, Russia accused Ukraine and Britain of "terrorist attacks against ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian vessels involved in guaranteeing the security of the grain corridor" and announced its withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba called on the international community not to allow Russia to block the grain corridor, which ensures food security for millions of people, under a false pretext.
On the morning of October 29, explosions rang out in temporarily occupied Sevastopol. Ukraine does not confirm its involvement.
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