More than 20 million tonnes of grain remain stranded in Ukraine’s barns after Russia invaded its territory on February 24 and imposed a blockade on their ports.
European Union foreign ministers will discuss at their Luxembourg council today ways to dismantle and dispose of on the world market millions of tonnes of grain that remain stranded in Ukrainian ports due to the Russian naval blockade of the Black Sea.
More than 20 million tonnes of grain remain stranded in Ukraine’s barns after Russia invaded its territory on February 24 and imposed a blockade on their ports. Both Ukraine and Russia are among the largest exporters of cereals in the world.
Moscow denies any responsibility for the ongoing food crisis; blames the West for sanctions on grain shortages that have led to soaring food prices amid UN warnings that the poorest countries, which depend heavily on from imports to feed their populations, are facing the threat of mass starvation.
The EU supports the UN efforts to resume an agreement to resume Ukrainian exports by sea, in exchange for facilitating Russian exports of food and fertilizers.
Turkey, which has diplomatic relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, has said it is prepared to play a role in a “monitoring mechanism” for the implementation of the Istanbul-based agreement if an agreement is reached.
It is unclear whether the EU would be militarily involved in securing an agreement.
“Whether and to what extent there will be a need to escort merchant ships in the future remains questionable and I do not think we are still there,” said a European official.
At the same time, talks are underway on the possibility of preparing a new – the 7th in a row – package of sanctions against Russia due to the war, according to the same official, who clarified that new punitive measures will not be taken immediately.
There is no agreement on imposing sanctions on Russian gas exports to the EU, the source explained.
