IRIA News

Ukraine requires additional air defense systems to protect the grain corridor in the Black Sea and Odesa region from Russian attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the second international summit “Grain from Ukraine” in Kyiv.

According to the Presidential Office of Ukraine, Kyiv is expecting additional air defense systems from its partner states and implementing relevant agreements to ensure the supply.

“There is a deficit of air defense – that is no secret,” Zelenskyy told the summit, which was attended by senior officials from European countries, including Swiss President Alain Berset and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte.

Speaking at the second ‘Grain from Ukraine‘ international summit, Zelenskyy said: “We still need a very specific number of systems with a very specific name. The request has been made. We have a positive response when these systems start to protect that region. Because both the corridor and the people there are important. Our people in the Odesa region are important to us. Air defense is in short supply, but… What’s important is that we have agreements, we have a positive signal, and the corridor is operational.”

The Ukrainian president highlighted that “We have a clear corridor and cooperation for its use with Bulgaria, Romania, and Türkiye. We have agreements with the United Kingdom, involved in insuring this corridor. Corresponding results should be.”

Ukraine will not lose its strength or freedom and will defend the global consensus that terror must be defeated.

I am proud of all Ukrainians who have managed to bring security back to the Black Sea so that Ukrainian ports can once again work for global food security and our… pic.twitter.com/mTN6bUKKGR

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 25, 2023

In September, Russia conducted drone attacks on a Ukrainian grain exporting port located in the Odesa region on the Danube River. According to Ukrainian official reports, Russia used more than two dozen Iranian-made self-destructing drones to attack the facility.

The Danube River has become a major grain exporting route for Ukraine since July after Russia pulled out of the Black Sea grain deal that provided safe passage to the Ukrainian exporting ships. Kyiv has been using the Danube River route to export grains, oilseeds, and vegetable oils to the European markets.

Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has made an agreement with several states regarding the robust escort by the Ukrainian convoy. “We are already receiving appropriate naval boats for this purpose,” he added.

Ukraine’s president said during the meeting that the Ukrainian product’s volume of transportation by rail through Moldova and Romania has increased.

Zelenskyy also thanked all the leaders and countries who have helped Ukraine confront Russia and protect the lives of Ukrainian citizens and soldiers. “We are not just defending our free European way of life, Ukraine, and the whole of Europe from Russian aggression; we are also defending humanity and helping the world not to fall into Russia’s trap,” he said.

Separately on November 27, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Ukraine is inflicting “major losses” on Russia and has recaptured 50 percent of the territory that Russia had seized. Stoltenberg highlighted that NATO is committed to long-term support for Ukraine and continues to support Kyiv on its path to NATO membership.

NATO Chief Stoltenberg added that Ukraine is achieving a “big win” in the war against Russia and Moscow is getting “weaker politically, economically and militarily” than it was before the war.

Black Sea Grain Initiative

The Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) was a one-year contract between Russia and Ukraine, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022. The deal expired on July 17, 2023. The BSGI agreement was reached to alleviate a global food crisis after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Both Russia and Ukraine are major suppliers of the World Food Program (WFP), which facilitates the availability of cheaper grains for developing countries. According to the European Commission, Ukraine alone accounts for 10% of the world wheat market, 15% of the corn market, and 13% of the barley market. It is also a key global player in the market of sunflower oil. A safe passage for grain exports during the war is essential to maintain the crucial supply of grains in underdeveloped countries.

Since its implementation, the Black Sea grain deal facilitated safe exports of more than 725,000 tons of grains under the World Food Program that was used for supporting humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Following the expiration of the one-year-long deal, the Kremlin refused to renew the pact stating that Moscow’s demands regarding the deal were not met. Kremlin spokesperson Dimitry Peskov said at that time that Russia would “return” to the deal “immediately” if its demands about its exports were met.

Ukraine has been exporting grain via unilateral corridors through the Black sea, after Russia withdrew from the UN-brokered deal to allow grain ships in July.