Zelenskyy hails first cargo ship safely departing from Odesa
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The first civilian vessel has passed through the new Ukrainian humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea, departing from Odesa and sailing for Bosporus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Twitter post on Aug. 16.
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“Ukraine has just taken an important step towards restoring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea,” said Zelenskyy.
“The first civilian vessel has passed through the new Ukrainian humanitarian corridor after departing from the Odesa port. Now it's heading for the Bosporus.”
According to the president, Ukraine officially informed the International Maritime Organization (IMO) about the operation of the corridor. In turn, the IMO again confirmed Ukraine's sovereign rights to implement navigation regulations and called on Russia to “cease threats and comply with international conventions.”
“The sea must be safe for all; this is a matter of principle for Ukraine and our partners,” Zelenskyy added.
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“Freedom and safety of navigation are fundamental principles of international relations.”
Earlier on Aug. 16, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov reported that for the first time in a month, a container ship has sailed from Odesa. JOSEPH SCHULTE, flying a Hong Kong flag, has taken advantage of the temporary corridor towards the Bosporus.
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On Aug. 15, The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States is considering various options to secure grain exports from Ukraine, following the disruption of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI), including a “military” strategy to protect ships.
Read also: Ukrainian guerillas set fire to Russian military base in Mariupol
Russia officially terminated its participation in the BSGI on July 17, which had previously allowed Ukrainian grain export through the Black Sea to countries at risk of food insecurity. Officially, Russia alleged that its unilateral withdrawal from the agreement was due to Ukrainian attacks on the Kerch Bridge, which connects occupied Crimea to Russian mainland.
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