Zelenskyy calls for Ukraine-NATO Council meeting due to Russia's actions in Black Sea

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with a proposal to immediately convene a NATO-Ukraine Council due to Russia's aggressive actions in the Black Sea.

Source: Zelenskyy in a video message

Quote: "We talked [with Stoltenberg – ed.] about the security situation now, in particular the Russian aggressive steps in the Black Sea. Any destabilisation in this region, disruption of our export routes will mean problems with corresponding consequences for everyone in the world. The price crisis is the least of the possible consequences.

We discussed with Mr Stoltenberg our steps to unlock and ensure the sustainable operation of the grain corridor.

In our cooperation, we have moved to a new, higher level – the level of the Ukraine-NATO Council. And this mechanism can work. I have approached Jens with a proposal to convene such a council without delay for appropriate crisis consultations. In one of the following days the meeting will take place. We can overcome the security crisis in the Black Sea."

Background:

• On 17 July, the Russian president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov announced the suspension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Russia also announced the withdrawal of the shipping security guarantees under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which ceased to be in effect on Monday, 17 July.
• President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said that he believes the Russian president actually wants the agreement to be extended and will talk to him about it.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested to Türkiye and the UN that the grain corridor under the Black Sea Grain Initiative should continue to function without Russia.
• On 19 July, Putin said that Russia "will consider the possibility" of returning to the grain agreement only if its conditions are fully met.
• In recent days, the Russians have been continuously destroying grain stocks in the south of Ukraine. On 19 July, as a result of Russian attacks on infrastructure in Odesa Oblast, 60,000 tonnes of grain were destroyed in the port of Chornomorsk. On 21 July, a night attack by the Russian Federation destroyed 100 tonnes of peas and 20 tonnes of barley in Odesa Oblast.

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