Ukraine exports almost 20 mln tons of grain through Romania

Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu stated this, Digi24 reports.

"We emphasize the fact that almost 20 million tons have already transited, and if we compare it with the other 33 million tons of the Black Sea Agreement, which was facilitated by the UN and Turkey, which Russia has just withdrawn from, it becomes very clear the important role Romania plays in this process, continuing to help Ukraine," the minister said.

She noted that the country is stepping up its efforts to help Ukraine get grain to where it is needed. Odobescu added that what Russia is doing in the Black Sea is jeopardizing all global food security.

"We will improve road, rail and river transport infrastructure. New border crossing points have been opened. We are in discussions with the European Commission on these solidarity corridors," she emphasized.

Russia's termination of the grain deal

On July 16, the last ship loaded with Ukrainian agricultural products under the initiative left the port of Odesa. On 17 July, Russia announced the termination of the grain deal. In response, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that it was necessary to continue using the grain corridor even despite Russia's withdrawal from the agreement. And Kuleba began urgent consultations at the UN.

The White House condemned Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal, which played a crucial role in reducing global food prices.

On July 18, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there were "certain risks" for parties trying to resume the Black Sea Grain Initiative without Russia's participation.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that it was critical to restore transport links across the Black Sea to provide food to the world's most vulnerable countries and to preserve the ability to export Ukrainian goods.

On July 19, it was reported that Ukraine was considering transporting food as part of the grain initiative through the territorial waters of Bulgaria and neighbouring Romania.

At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defence issued a statement threatening ships heading to Ukraine's Black Sea ports. On the same day, Putin named the conditions for Russia's return to the grain deal and demanded their immediate implementation

The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said that the only response to Russia's threats to fire on Ukrainian grain ships is to increase military aid to Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense announced that starting July 21, all ships heading to the Black Sea in the direction of Russian seaports and Ukrainian ports in the temporarily occupied territory may be treated by Ukraine as military cargo.

On July 21, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he wanted to discuss the extension of the grain deal with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and expressed confidence that it will work again.

On July 22, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with a proposal to urgently convene the Ukraine-NATO Council due to the security crisis in the Black Sea.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote about his conversation with Stoltenberg on Telegram. Zelenskyy and Stoltenberg discussed the implementation of the agreements reached during the Vilnius NATO summit, as well as further steps towards Ukraine's integration into NATO.

On July 25, the Main Intelligence Directorate released a report to the Russian leadership, which outlined the technologies used by the Russians to prevent the export of Ukrainian grain, indicating a deliberate disruption of the grain deal.

On July 26, the UK Ministry of Defense reported that Russia had deployed a modern corvette, the Sergei Kotov, in the southern Black Sea to intercept merchant ships at sea. It is patrolling the transportation route between the Bosporus and Odesa.

Later, it was reported that Russia was preparing aircraft and ships to block the Black Sea, detect and destroy ships.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says that after unilaterally withdrawing from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia is ready to replace Ukrainian grain and start supplying its own to African countries free of charge.