Zelensky: blocking of the grain corridor requires immediate response

Russia is blocking the export of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products via the Black Sea. Kyiv considers the restoration of safe navigation one of the issues that should become part of future negotiations, because further restrictions on supplies create risks for global food security.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated this during the Yalta European Strategy (YES-2026).

According to Zelensky, international partners are currently raising the problem of Ukrainian agricultural exports when discussing possible outcomes of future negotiations.

"All partners in the world are raising the issue of grain and agricultural products that Russia has begun to block in the Black Sea," — said the President

He added that Ukraine is responding to Russian actions and considers it necessary to make Moscow feel the consequences of continuing the war.

Zelensky said that over the past month he had discussed food security issues with the leaders of Egypt, India, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and the United States. According to him, all these countries understand that restricting food supplies through the Black Sea is not only a Ukrainian but also a global problem.

The President believes that the food issue could become one of the areas of phased de-escalation along with a mutual cessation of strikes on energy infrastructure. At the same time, he said, further progress will depend on Russia's position and pressure from major world powers.

Problems with Ukrainian maritime exports sharply escalated in the summer. Russia intensified attacks on the port infrastructure of Greater Odesa and civilian vessels. As a result, the operations of the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi were significantly limited, and exporters had to reroute part of their cargo to alternative routes.

According to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, in August Ukraine was able to export only about a third of the potential volume of agricultural products. The government directly linked the drop in exports to Russian attacks on civilian vessels and ports. To support business, the Cabinet of Ministers allowed in certain cases to extend the settlement periods for export contracts for grain, soybeans, sunflower, oil and other agricultural goods for another 180 days.

The situation is especially sensitive because of the Black Sea's role in Ukrainian logistics. Before the current escalation, the ports of Greater Odesa handled the bulk of the country's seaborne grain exports. In the first weeks of August, supplies through them practically stopped, and a significant part of the cargo had to be redirected via the Danube and the western border.

At the same time, problems also arose with Russian grain exports after Ukrainian strikes on Russian ports and ships. Against the backdrop of mutual escalation of attacks, the safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea has sharply deteriorated, which has already raised concerns about a further rise in world food prices. Russia and Ukraine remain the largest suppliers of grain to the international market.

Zelensky expects that the issues of food exports and energy security will be discussed with the American side at the end of September. The President previously announced a planned meeting with the US team in New York and stated that Kyiv considers individual mutual arrangements as possible first steps toward a broader end to the war.

Sources: Volodymyr Zelensky, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.