Lifting of blockade on Ukrainian ports alleviates food crisis – Zelenskyy
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO – SATURDAY, 13 AUGUST 2022, 22:25
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that lifting the blockade on Ukrainian ports to allow grain exports has already reduced the severity of the food crisis in the world.
Source: President Zelenskyy’s video address
Quote: "It is very important that the grain export initiative produces results. Since the start of its implementation, a total of 16 vessels carrying grain for seven countries on three continents – Europe, Asia, Africa – have left Ukrainian ports. Almost half a million tonnes of agricultural products were on board: corn, wheat, sunflower oil, soybeans and other goods that are absolutely essential for the global market.
This has already made it possible to reduce the severity of the food crisis, and has given some hope of peace to the countries that consume our agricultural products. And in the long run, it could help to take the food crisis right off the global agenda - provided, of course, that our partners ensure that the security part of the initiative is implemented and prevent Russian provocations and terror at sea or against our ports."
Details: Zelenskyy said that in less than two weeks, the volume exported via the three Ukrainian ports – Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi – was equal to the entire volume of agricultural exports by road for July and more than two-thirds of exports by rail over the past month.
Background:
- On the morning of 12 August, the fifth convoy loaded with Ukrainian food left the Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi.
- According to the grain deal between Ukraine, Turkey, the UN and Russia, all ships carrying Ukrainian grain for export are protected by a buffer zone of 10 nautical miles (approximately 18.5 kilometres).
- The UN expects a "big uptick" in ships wanting to export Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, and believes a goal of two to five million tonnes a month to be "achievable".
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