President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conference call on the frontline situation, security and the supply of shells. Commanders, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, heads of intelligence (GUR and foreign intelligence), the interior minister, and the defence minister made reports, Zelenskyy said in his evening video address.
"I thank each of our rescuers, each police officer, each volunteer, each doctor who save our people after Russian shelling. Today's terrorist attacks in Sumy, Kharkiv, Donbas, Kherson, Zaporizhzhya will definitely not go unanswered by our soldiers," the president said.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine is preparing to talk to the UN Secretary-General about the grain corridor.
"Ukraine's position has always been and will be as clear as possible: no-one has the right to destroy the food security of any nation. If a handful of people somewhere in the Kremlin think they have the right to decide whether food will be on the tables in different countries: Egypt or Sudan, Yemen or Bangladesh, China, India, Turkey, Indonesia, the world has the opportunity to show that no-one is allowed to blackmail," he stressed.
The president recalled that since the first day of full-scale aggression, Russia has destroyed free navigation in the Black and Azov Seas, fired missiles and drones at Ukrainian ports, grain terminals, even elevators. The only possible consequence of this is the destabilisation of food markets and social chaos in countries that are critically dependent on food imports. Ukrainian food is a basic security for 400 million people.
"Last year, the world reacted correctly to the Russian threat to food security - together with Turkey and the UN, we launched the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Its results are telling: almost 33 million tonnes of agricultural products were exported to 45 countries. 60% of the volume went to Africa and Asia. In particular, these are Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, as well as China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen. And it is very important that our food exports help save lives in countries like Yemen and Somalia, as I said. Different people, different religions, different ethnic backgrounds. But they all have the same right to life!" Zelenskyy stressed.
He also recalled that Ukraine had launched the humanitarian initiative Grain from Ukraine, which was joined by 34 donor countries that helped save people from hunger, primarily in Africa.
"The Black Sea Grain Initiative can and should continue to work - if without Russia, then without Russia. The agreement on grain exports - the agreement with Turkey and the UN - remains in force. The only thing that is needed now is its careful implementation and decisive pressure of the world on the terrorist state," Zelenskyy argued.
He sent official letters to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres with a proposal to continue the work of the Black Sea Grain Initiative or a similar project in a trilateral format. Ukraine, the UN and Turkey can jointly ensure the operation of the food corridor and ship inspections.
"I would like to thank Sweden in particular. Our Swedish friends have approved a strategy to help Ukraine, including reconstruction. The strategy is designed until 2027. This is very important - signals of long-term support. Support for life, restoration of life, support for the fact that the Russian terror is definitely losing. Mr Prime Minister Kristersson, the entire Swedish government, everyone in Sweden - I thank you very much!" Zelenskyy concluded.