Ukraine, US to work on ensuring grain exports to Africa, Asia, says FM Kuleba
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Ukraine and the United States will work together to ensure the export of Ukrainian grain to Africa and Asia, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter on July 17.
“I met with the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Member of President Biden’s Cabinet Linda Thomas-Greenfield,” he tweeted.
“We condemned Russia’s deadly blow to the Grain Initiative vital to keep food prices from rising. Ukraine and the United States will spare no effort to ensure export of Ukrainian grains to Africa, Asia, and beyond.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on July 17 that Russia’s decision to halt participation in the year-old deal that lets Ukraine export grain through the Black Sea was “unconscionable” and called for the pact to be restored as quickly as possible.
He added that Ukraine, the United States and allies would look for “any other options” for the safe transit of Ukrainian grains through the Black Sea.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed under the auspices of the United Nations and Turkey in July of the previous year, allowed for the utilization of three Ukrainian ports for food exports. Operations in the grain corridor began on Aug. 1, 2022.
Russia has previously issued threats to withdraw from the agreement, which was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July of the previous year. The agreement has already been extended three times – in November 2022, and in March and May 2023.
Since June 27, Russia has not registered any new ships under the grain agreement, effectively sabotaging the operation of the “grain corridor.”
On July 14, a UN representative stated that Secretary-General António Guterres is awaiting a response from Russian dictator Vladimir Putin regarding the proposal to extend the agreement.
However, on the same day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that Putin had agreed to the necessity of extending the grain agreement, a claim later denied by the Kremlin.
On July 17, Russia officially announced its withdrawal from the grain agreement after an attack at the Crimean Bridge.
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