August 30, 2023
EU official urges Russia to reinstate safe Ukrainian grain export deal via Black Sea ports
Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commission Executive Vice President, has called on Russia to reinstate the agreement allowing secure export of Ukrainian grain through Black Sea ports, Euractiv reported.
The European Union (EU) senior official emphasised the disruptive consequences of Russia's withdrawal from the agreement last month, asserting that the restrictive measures imposed on shipping Ukrainian grains via the Black Sea are not only affecting Kyiv but also impacting various developing nations.
Dombrovskis conveyed the EU's endorsement of initiatives by the United Nations and Turkey regarding the Black Sea grain accord. He informed reporters that the bloc has been actively implementing alternative trading pathways, known as solidarity lanes, to facilitate Ukraine's grain and other exports.
Turkey has diligently engaged in efforts to encourage Moscow to re-join the agreement, which was brokered by Ankara and the United Nations a year ago and concluded its term last month. Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, conveyed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that Russia would consider returning to the accord only upon the fulfilment of Western obligations to Moscow.
Dombrovskis said that approximately 45 million tonnes of grain, oil seeds, and related products have been successfully exported via alternative routes encompassing Poland and Romania.
According to the official EU Commission website, the bloc has been leveraging these alternative routes, known as Solidarity Lanes, since May 2022. The Commission initiated the Solidarity Lanes Action Plan to facilitate alternative shipping routes through rail, road, and inland waterways.
- Euractiv
