Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky played down the significance of his country’s first grain export shipment since the Russian invasion, saying it carried a small part of the crop that Kyiv needs to sell to help save its battered economy.
The remarks, via video link with students in Australia, came as the ship completed an inspection in Turkey before it continued to its final destination in Lebanon under a deal aimed at easing a global food crisis.
The ship, the Razoni, left the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odessa carrying 26,527 tons of corn to Tripoli, Lebanon, as part of a U.N.-brokered deal reached last month between Moscow and Kyiv to export grain and of fertilizers – a rare diplomatic success in a protracted war of attrition.
But Zelensky, speaking through an interpreter, said more time was needed before it was clear whether more grain export shipments would follow.
“Just recently, thanks to the UN in partnership with Turkey, we had a first ship with a cargo of grain, but that’s nothing yet. But we hope it’s a trend that will continue,” he told the students.
He added that Ukraine must export at least 10 million tons of grain in order to reduce the budget deficit, which amounts to 5 billion dollars per month.
A senior Turkish official said three ships could leave Ukrainian ports daily after Razoni’s departure, while Ukraine’s infrastructure minister said another 17 ships were loaded with agricultural products and were awaiting the green light to depart.
“The war … is almost killing the economy. It is in a coma,” Zelensky said. “The blockade of the ports by Russia is a big loss for the economy.”
Zelensky has repeatedly warned that Moscow may try to block exports despite signing the deal last month.
Source: AMPE
Source: Capital
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