Šimonite pointed out that Russia is trying to use the situation in the Black Sea to hinder the export of Ukrainian grain and achieve the lifting of sanctions.
“However, this will not work. We are developing alternative grain export routes, including Solidarity Belts and new grain corridors. We will be ready to increase the transit capacity of our ports for Ukrainian exports, and despite Russia’s attempts, this will create another opportunity – a corridor through the Baltic Sea for Ukrainian products for export,” Šimonīte said.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs and Swiss President Alain Berse are also participating in the Food Security Summit “Grains from Ukraine” on Saturday.
The participants of the event were addressed in video format by Estonian President Alar Karis, Polish President Andrzej Duda and Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammatesi, while recorded video messages were heard from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Dutch Prime Minister Marc Riet, Belgian Prime Minister Alexandre de Croix, Cape Verdean Prime Minister José Ullis Correia i Silva, Finland Prime Minister Peteri Orpo, Prime Minister of Iceland Katrina Jakobsdottir, Prime Minister of Portugal Antoniu Kosti, Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Christerson and Prime Minister of Romania Marcel Čolaku.
The joint statement of the summit was supported by 23 countries.
“Hunger must never again become a weapon against human freedom. And anyone who tries to use hunger in this way, anyone whose terror serves to destroy the food market, must answer for it before the whole world. Russia must answer. I am sure that she will answer, Zelensky announced at the summit, which is held on the day when Ukraine commemorates the victims of the Holomodorus.
Ukraine is one of the world’s largest grain exporters.
After Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine last February, including blocking Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, Kyiv is struggling to get its agricultural produce to markets.
Until November 24, 153 civilian ships with 5.6 tons of grain and other cargo passed through the humanitarian corridor provided by the Ukrainian Navy in the Black Sea.
Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukraine’s port infrastructure, which is important for exports.
2023-11-25 16:10:00
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