"We are not afraid": Zelenskyy says Ukraine will extend grain initiative without Russia

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine is ready to resume the Black Sea Grain Initiative without Russia and will be sending this message to the agreement’s brokers, the UN and Türkiye.

Source: Zelenskyy in an interview for African journalists, as reported by Serhii Nikoforov, Zelenskyy's press secretary 

"We had two agreements: [one] between Ukraine, Türkiye and the UN, and another agreement between Russia, Türkiye and the UN. So when Russia claims it is suspending [the grain initiative – ed.], it is breaking off its agreements with UN Secretary General António Guterres and President Erdogan. Not with us. We made no agreements with them," Zelenskyy said.

After Russia's official statement about the suspension of agreements, Zelenskyy ordered the Foreign Ministry to prepare official statements for the UN and Türkiye.

"[This should be done] so that they respond to me, as the president of Ukraine, that they are prepared to continue our initiative," Zelenskyy explained.

"Even without Russia, we must do everything we can to make it possible for us to use this Black Sea grain corridor. We are not afraid. The companies that own the ships have contacted us. They said they are prepared to continue the grain shipments if Ukraine lets them leave, and Türkiye lets them pass through," he added.  

Background:

• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on 17 July that the grain deal was being suspended. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, told the Kremlin-aligned news agency RIA Novosti that today, Russia had officially informed Türkiye and Ukraine, as well as the UN Secretariat, of its objection to the extension of the grain deal.
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin actually wants to continue the grain deal and said he would talk to him about it.

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