The initiative will now extend to Ukrainian Danube ports, and the Second International Summit “Grain from Ukraine” will take place in Kyiv on November 25.
This was announced on Tuesday at the UN Security Council meeting by Ukraine’s Permanent Representative, Serhiy Kyslytsia.
“Among other things, we can consider the creation of food logistics hubs in Global South countries to supply Ukrainian agricultural products,” Kyslytsia noted.
He emphasized that artificial famine, like 90 years ago, remains one of the tools of the Kremlin, not only against Ukraine but also against the whole world, including the most vulnerable countries in Africa and Asia. According to Kyslytsia, since July 18, due to Russian attacks on Ukrainian seaports, 167 objects of port infrastructure and seven civilian vessels have been damaged.
As a result of rocket terror, Ukraine has experienced a 40% reduction in the export potential of its ports, with approximately 300,000 tons of grain destroyed. The export of grain cargoes to Asia, Africa, and Europe has decreased by almost 3 million tons per month, Kyslytsia reported.
“These actions, devoid of any military purpose, only deepen the global food crisis. Ukraine is trying to prevent Russia from causing hunger worldwide,” he said, emphasizing that the Peace Formula proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky includes food security as an integral component of comprehensive, fair, and lasting peace.
Kyslytsia informed members of the UN Security Council that as of mid-November, Ukraine has harvested nearly 76 million tons of grain, including over 53 million tons of grain and over 22 million tons of oilseeds.
“We are ready to continue exporting food to the world market,” he stressed.
While working on the restoration of free navigation in the Black Sea, Ukraine rejects any ultimatums from Russia regarding the grain deal, the Permanent Representative noted.
He reminded that temporary routes came into effect on August 8. More than 116 vessels have already used this new alternative maritime corridor from the ports of Odessa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdenny.
Ukraine effectively continues the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, using alternative routes, the Permanent Representative explained. He emphasized that the Danube corridor is the most effective in terms of grain export.
Ukrainian grain is exported through Croatian ports. On October 3, Lithuania approved a corridor for the transit of Ukrainian grain to Baltic ports. On October 10, the creation of a new grain corridor through Moldova and Romania was announced. On October 17, the port of Riga received the first test container train with Ukrainian agricultural products.