Coordination Council to discuss grain corridor without Russia

This week, the Coordination Council for Agricultural Logistics will discuss with market operators the possibility of continuing grain exports by sea after Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal.

First deputy minister of agrarian policy and food of Ukraine Taras Vysotsky announced this in the program Ukrinform: Evening Stream.

According to him, Ukraine was preparing in advance for Russia's possible disruption of the agreements concluded with the UN and Türkiye.

"Starting in March, when the second extension of the agreement was discussed (the agreement is reviewed every four months - ed.), the Russian side systematically blocked, sabotaged, and did everything possible to reduce the role and opportunities for exports by sea. Therefore, Ukraine has been developing other supply routes in parallel. An average of 2 million tonnes of grain is exported monthly through Danube ports," the official said.

Vysotsky noted that the market had repeatedly discussed the risks of guarantees provided by the aggressor country. At some point, they would become null and void or be suspended. Then it would be necessary to provide an export route through the Black Sea without Russia's participation.

"I cannot say that this will happen right now. But important steps have been taken to realize this scenario. The budget provides for UAH 20 billion of the insurance fund. The procedure for using these funds has been approved. A meeting of the Coordination Council was held. There, it was announced that a meeting to discuss this issue with all interested market operators would be held this week. We are also waiting for confirmation from our partners (the UN (globally) and Türkiye (as a guarantor)) to inform them that Ukraine and the companies that work with it are ready to discuss the parameters of the new agreement in detail without the aggressor state’s participation," the official said.

According to him, there is a chance of preserving sea supplies of Ukrainian food.

As reported, Russia has announced the termination of the Grain Agreement signed last year on July 22 in Istanbul.

"Ukraine has appealed to Türkiye and the UN with a proposal to continue the functioning of the grain corridor within the Black Sea Grain Initiative without Russia, which has withdrawn from the agreements," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Monday evening address.