Ukrainian ambassador outlines Ukraine's red lines in case of grain deal revival

Ukraine believes that if the Black Sea Grain Initiative is revived, the conditions should be revised, particularly regarding the inspection of ships departing from Ukrainian ports.

Source: Ukraine's Ambassador to Türkiye, Vasyl Bodnar, during the national joint 24/7 newscast on Saturday, 20 July, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Bodnar noted that Ukraine's success in establishing its own safe Black Sea route via the Danube "encourages other partners, including Türkiye, to seek safer conditions for the passage of ships".

"Vessels pass through the territorial waters of Romania, Bulgaria and Türkiye, and the focus now is on creating a safer direct route," the ambassador explained.

"The only thing that does not suit us is that we would be back to the conditions that functioned within the first grain corridor. There can be no control and no inspections of ships leaving Ukrainian ports. We will never agree to this," he stated.

However, Bodnar noted that the grain corridor could reduce the cost of insurance for ships heading to Ukraine and increase shipping safety in the Black Sea.

"We are also working with the Turkish side. But our priority is the implementation of President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy's Peace Formula, which provides for global food security and shipping safety," the diplomat concluded.

Background: 

• Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and naval blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports in July 2022, Türkiye and the UN facilitated the establishment of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
• As part of the agreement, Ukraine safely exported almost 33 million metric tonnes of its grain via the Black Sea through what is known as the grain corridor. However, in July 2023, Russia withdrew from the agreement, claiming that its requirements had not been met.
• In August, a meeting on free shipping will be held in Türkiye to discuss food security.

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