Ukraine will receive boats to escort vessels along the “grain corridor”

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he has reached an agreement with several states to provide naval boats to escort ships in the Black Sea that are using the temporary humanitarian corridor. He said this at the second international summit of the Grain from Ukraine initiative in Kyiv.

“I have an agreement with several states on a powerful escort by Ukrainians, but on other [foreign] convoy equipment. That is, we will receive and are receiving appropriate naval boats,” the head of state said.

According to the President, Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July, which guaranteed the safety of ships sailing to and from the ports of Odesa region, has no significant impact on the current movement of ships.

“What can Russia do today? It can block this corridor as much as possible. But I believe that it does not have such a powerful influence on this corridor today. First, we have relations with Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey on the use of this corridor. The second story is that we have agreements with the UK, which insures this corridor. There should be corresponding results,” he said.

Zelenskyy also said that he has agreements to provide Ukraine with additional air defense equipment for use in Odesa region, including to strengthen the security of the grain corridor.

“There is still a very specific number of systems with a very specific name: this request is there. I’ll tell you frankly: there is already a positive answer, when these systems will protect that region, I’ll say so. Because the corridor and people are important there. Our people in the Odesa region are important to us, very important. As you know, there is a shortage of air defense equipment. But it is important that there are agreements, there is a positive signal, the corridor is working. God willing, we will increase [its] volume and security in the Odesa region,” he said.

As a reminder, after the Russian Federation withdrew from the grain deal, vessels continue to navigate to ports on the Odesa region’s sea coast through the temporary humanitarian corridor thanks to war risk insurance mechanisms.

Ukrainian ports on the Danube, which also have the status of seaports, are also actively used, mainly Izmail and Reni. Over the past year, they have become one of the main export routes, having more than doubled their transshipment. However, both the Greater Odesa and Danube ports have been subject to periodic Russian attacks with missiles and attack drones since July.

Tags: Black Sea grain corridor, Ukraine, war