Ukraine stands for extending Grain Initiative for “unlimited period”
The Head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, had a meeting with Ukrainian and foreign journalists.
That’s according to the Office’s press service.
Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Sybiha and Advisor - Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights and Child Rehabilitation Daria Herasymchuk also took part in the conversation.
Andriy Yermak noted that one of the most important issues discussed during UN Secretary-General António Guterres' visit to Ukraine on Wednesday was the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative beyond March 18.
"Ukraine's position is unchanged. This is one of the points of the Peace Formula presented by President Volodymyr Zelensky. We stand in favor of extending the grain initiative for an unlimited period. Ukraine, for its part, is fulfilling everything we have agreed with the UN and Türkiye," he emphasized.
The Head of the President's Office noted that all of Ukraine's partners are well aware of this. In addition, there is a huge work with African countries, and a number of ambassadors of the Ukrainian humanitarian initiative Grain from Ukraine have emerged, and they are influential people on the African continent.
Andriy Yermak also reminded that recently, for the first time since independence, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia visited Ukraine.
It is also important that Saudi Arabia supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, voted in favor of the UN General Assembly resolution on lasting peace in Ukraine on February 23, provides humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and facilitated the release of prisoners of war.
Regarding the work at the UN platform, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Sybiha noted that Ukraine is actively consulting with permanent and non-permanent members of the UN Security Council to prevent Russia from assuming the presidency of the Security Council in April.
Andriy Yermak emphasized that it is extremely important to find an approach to each country in the international arena, and this requires systematic work. In particular, this applies to those countries that have not yet joined the sanctions against Russia.
The Head of the President's Office drew attention to the importance of environmental safety and Russia's responsibility for environmental crimes. According to him, work is underway to form an international platform around the environmental safety clause of Volodymyr Zelensky's peace plan.
"The world does not know about the damage and catastrophe caused by the Russians during this war, and we need to make sure that it does," he emphasized.
Answering a question about crimes against children, Presidential Commissioner Daria Herasymchuk noted that everything committed by Russians against Ukrainian children is not just crimes against humanity, not just war crimes, but genocide.
"For example, Ukraine is not the first country where children are abducted during the war. But the world has never seen such a massive crime for sure" she emphasized.
According to Daria Herasymchuk, the return of Ukrainian children from Russia is an extremely complicated process involving many different people and organizations.
Photo: Ukrainian President’s Office