FM Kuleba on unblocking ports: Military guarantees needed to prevent Russia’s attack from the sea

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba in an interview during a nationwide telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“When we are speaking of the military component, this is not about unblocking the ports. This is about the military guarantees ensuring that Russia will not take advantage of access to Odesa to simply attack the city from the sea. For this purpose, we need the military presence of the countries that are ready to take part in such operation,” Kuleba told.

Ideally, the military component could be implemented under the aegis of the United Nations, Kuleba noted. In this case, when the corridor opens, it would be safe, and Ukraine would be confident that “Russian warships will not risk rushing by and attacking Odesa from the sea”.

“We are looking for a balanced solution, which would both resume exports and ensure the country’s security. This is the key. We cannot agree to turn a blind eye on everything and unblock everything, as Russia cannot be trusted,” Kuleba stressed.

A reminder that, on February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, starting a war. Russian invaders blocked Ukrainian sea ports, posing a threat to the global food security.

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