Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that negotiations are underway with Türkiye, Egypt, and India to resume civilian maritime transport in the Black Sea, particularly for agricultural exports.
Sea-news.az reports that citing the Ukrainian leader’s interview with Bloomberg, that these countries presented a proposal allowing vessels flying their flags to safely berth at both Ukrainian and Russian ports to transport food products. The plan aims to achieve an agreement between the parties not to attack commercial ships.
Zelenskyy stated: “One ship will head to our port, and the other to a Russian port, and we accept agreements not to strike either of these vessels”. However, the Ukrainian President claimed that despite mediation efforts by Türkiye, India, and Egypt, Russia opposes the plan.
Black Sea ports, the primary route for Ukrainian food exports, have the capacity to ship up to 40 million tonnes of grain during a marketing season. However, shipments have been halted since August due to attacks on port infrastructure and vessels. According to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, the country is currently able to carry out only 38 percent of its normal export volume.
Zelenskyy noted that transporting this cargo volume by rail is impossible and urged the European Union to restart the “solidarity lanes” program launched following Russia’s full-scale aggression in 2022. This program facilitated the export of Ukrainian grain via European railways and ports.
