Ukraine intends to strengthen the alternative sea route for grain exports, which has already seen two ships leave Ukrainian ports, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said at a joint briefing with his French counterpart Catherine Colonna in Paris, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
"Of course, after Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Ukrainian farmers and consumers or buyers of bread in Africa and Asia, that is, in the countries where it is most needed, suffered the most. They are the biggest victims of Russian grain blackmail and Russian hunger games," Kuleba said.
The minister stressed that Ukraine is interested in resuming the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
"But we, as Ukraine, as a state, have also demonstrated that there is an alternative to the agreements with Russia. There is a safe sea route, which has already been used by two ships which left Ukrainian ports, and this route will not be a hostage to Russian blackmail. It can be developed and strengthened. In particular, we discussed how this route can be further developed," Kuleba said.