US to help Ukraine with exports after Russia’s withdrawal from grain deal – Blinken

After Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Ukraine’s partners will look for alternative ways to export Ukrainian food, but the sea route was the most effective.

This was stated by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken at a briefing on Monday, according to a correspondent of Yevropeiska Pravda.

According to Blinken, after Russia suspends its participation in the grain deal, the United States and its partners will consider other options for exporting Ukrainian grain, but he noted that Moscow’s step will have a “deeply chilling effect” on the possibility of their implementation.

“After all, other countries, companies, shippers, etc. will be very concerned about what will happen to their ships and personnel,” he added.

The U.S. Secretary of State also reminded that the point of the grain deal was to guarantee the safety, reliability and predictability of food exports from Ukraine to countries that need it.

“In the absence of this, we will consider what else can be done to find other ways to get Ukrainian food to the world market, including export by rail and road. But in terms of volumes, it is very difficult to replace what is being lost. This is the result of Russia turning food into a weapon,” Blinken summarized.

On July 17, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced the suspension of the grain deal. Also, Russia announced the withdrawal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative’s shipping security guarantees, which ceased to be effective on Monday, July 17.

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Tags: Black Sea grain deal, USA