Ukraine wants help to export millions of tons of grain

The international community should help to create “a safe corridor” that will allow Ukraine to export millions of tons of grain, which, due to the war against Russia, cannot be shipped out.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk told the BBC.

Iryna Vereshchuk, Ukraine’s economy minister, called on the international community to help lift the blockade of the country’s ports on the Black Sea.

“We need the help of our international partners to secure our exports through the ports. To find a way to create a corridor or other solution that would allow Ukrainian ships (to export via the Black Sea, Ed.), “she says.

“A safe corridor,” adds Iryna Vereshchuk, hinting that it may be necessary to use military means to achieve that goal.«

We need a guarantee from partners. Of course, it is a defense guarantee, a security guarantee, to be able to export with the use of ships,” she says.

Ukraine is among the world’s largest producers and exporters of wheat. Because of the war, wheat exports have largely stalled.

It has triggered higher prices for wheat on the world market and made bread, cakes, noodles, pasta and many other foods more expensive.

The smaller supply of grain has also caused concern about famine in countries that depend on Ukrainian exports.

In Egypt, the world’s largest importer of wheat, bread shortages have “rekindled past concerns about political unrest”. The Wall Street Journal reports on Monday.

Ukraine has maintained a small export of wheat and other raw materials by land and by, among other things, transporting the goods on the Danube River.

But it is not enough, the deputy prime minister believes.

“If you count on that, I think it will take five, six, seven years to export the crop from agriculture through these routes. It is extremely important for us to remove the blockade of ports.«

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, called at a summit 18. May on the global food situation Russia to allow Ukraine to export grain.

“Let it be clear: there is no effective solution to the food crisis if Ukraine’s food production is not reintegrated (into World Trade, Ed.), “Guterres said.

/ ritzau/