China News Network, July 7 According to TASS news agency, on the 18th local time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that although Russia decided to suspend the agreement on the export of agricultural products from Black Sea ports, Ukraine will continue to work hard to export grain through the Black Sea.
Infographic: Zelensky.
According to reports, Zelensky said in an interview, "Even without Russia, we should do our best to ensure that this corridor (for exporting grain) is used." We are not afraid. ”
He also said he had received assurances from the ship's owners that they were ready to continue transporting grain from Ukrainian ports "if Ukraine allows them to ship out and Turkey allows them to pass through."
In a daily video address that evening, Zelensky said that official letters had been sent to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recommending the continuation of the Black Sea food agreement. Zelensky said that "Ukraine, the United Nations and Turkey can jointly ensure the operation of the grain corridor and the review of ships." ”
TASS also reported U.S. Secretary of State Blinken's statement on the Black Sea grain agreement, Blinken said on the 17th, "We and Ukraine, as well as other countries, will see if there are other options." ”
Security personnel stand in front of a grain storage terminal in the Odessa seaport on July 2022, 7.
"In the absence of this (Black Sea grain) agreement, we will see what more can be done to bring Ukrainian food products to the world market." Blinken said. However, he also said that although Ukraine has shipped food by rail and road, the quantity is still limited.
In July 2022, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations, led by the United Nations, signed an agreement on the export of agricultural products from Black Sea ports, which is valid for 7 days and renewed several times thereafter. Based on the initial consultations, the parties agreed to establish a joint coordination center to provide security for the export of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products through the Black Sea, as well as the access of Russian grain and fertilizers to international markets.
However, when the agreement was put into practice, Russia repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of some of the Russia-related parts of the agreement, believing that Western sanctions still made it difficult for Russia to export grain and fertilizers. On the 17th, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said that the agreement had been suspended because the part of the agreement involving Russia had not been implemented. Once the Russian part of the agreement is implemented, the Russian side will immediately resume the implementation of the agreement.