Existing Ukrainian Black Sea grain export routes ‘not sustainable’ — UN
The current maritime export routes for Ukrainian grain in the Black Sea are not sufficiently reliable or predictable, the spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Saviano Abreu, said in an interview with Ukrinform news agency on Jan. 10.
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"The problem with these alternatives [to the Black Sea Grain Initiative] is that they are still not sustainable or even predictable," Abreu said.
“The Black Sea Grain Initiative was a system that would guarantee the safety of the vessels entering or leaving [Ukrainian ports]. Unfortunately, we saw an increase in [naval] mine contamination of the Black Sea after the termination of the initiative. And we witnessed the level of repeated [Russian] attacks on Ukrainian ports, including on the Danube River, which could be an alternative [export route].”
The UN is looking for solutions to ensure safe, predictable, and sustainable civilian shipping in the Black Sea, the official added.
At the beginning of the war, Russia blockaded Ukrainian Black Sea ports and disrupted maritime trade in the region. This led to enormous consequences, since nearly 400 million people, including in Africa and Asia, depend on food exports from Ukraine.
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In July 2022, the UN and Turkey mediated a deal that allowed for safe passage of civilian cargo vessels to and from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea, pending inspections by Russian officials who verified the ships were not delivering arms to Ukraine.
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Russia officially terminated its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative on July 17, 2023.
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The Ukrainian Navy announced on Aug. 10, 2023, new temporary routes for civilian vessels to and from Black Sea ports after the suspension of the grain deal involving the UN, Türkiye, and Russia in July.
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said on Nov. 3, 2023, that 100 ships had passed through Ukraine’s temporary grain corridor in the Black Sea, exporting 3.6 million tons of food. Almost 6 million tons of goods had been exported from Odesa ports by Nov. 27.
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