Grain corridor functioning without Russia possible with political will - Kuleba

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated this in an interview with the Voice of America, Ukrinform reports.

"We have already had this experience. Russia left the Initiative. But the UN, Türkiye, and Ukraine have enough resources to ensure the functioning of this Initiative, provided there is political will. We clearly articulate that we have the political will. Today I will bring the contents of the letter to the Secretary-General so that the UN can formulate its position," he said.

Speaking about President Zelensky's appeal to the Turkish President and the UN Secretary-General to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative without Russian participation, Kuleba noted that the relevant letters had been signed.

"We are now waiting for the reaction of both Türkiye and the UN. We will be in active dialog with them," the minister said.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister also emphasized that Ukraine has several plans to continue grain exports. According to him, plan A is to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Plan B is to supply Ukrainian grain to world markets via the Black Sea but via an alternative route with alternative modalities. Plan C is to "throw the Russians out of Ukraine, lift the blockade of ports, return Crimea to Ukraine, and remove any threat to sea trade routes."

"In fact, no matter how much we work on plan A and plan B, until plan C is implemented, Russia will have these tools of blackmail," the head of Ukrainian diplomacy warned.

As reported, Russia has announced that it is suspending the extension of the grain deal.

The agreement was concluded on July 22, 2022, in Istanbul for 120 days and has been extended several times.