Following the end of the so-called Black Sea Agreement on Ukrainian grain exports, authorities in Kiev are currently trying to set up a temporary “grain corridor” through Romanian and Bulgarian sovereign waters.
This is evident from a letter from the Ukrainian State Secretary for Infrastructure Development, Vasyl Shkurakov, to the World Maritime Organization (IMO) of the United Nations. In the July 19 document, the Ukrainian official explains that Kiev initially committed to the “recommended route” to end “the blockade of shipping in the northwest of the Black Sea”.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Turkey, Wasyl Bodnar, also told Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne on Wednesday night that Kiev is now considering a “grain corridor” through Romanian and Bulgarian territorial waters. For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently called for the continuation of exports without Russia’s permission, in cooperation with the United Nations and Turkey.
Moscow threatens cargo ships
Moscow had announced that from Thursday it would classify all ships calling at Ukrainian ports as “adversaries” and “potential carriers of military cargo”. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, countries under whose flag cargo ships sail to Ukrainian ports will be considered parties to the conflict in the future.
The Russian Black Sea Fleet is now likely to take a more active role in disrupting ongoing trade. However, the blockade operations are threatened by Ukrainian coastal defense UAVs and cruise missiles, the British said in their daily update.
Romania still silent
Romanian authorities have not yet commented on Kiev’s plans for a “grain corridor” through Romanian sovereign waters. However, President Klaus Johannis only made it clear in recent days on the margins of the EU-CELAC summit in Brussels that Romania is still resolutely on the side of Ukraine.
Source: Krone
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