Several voices in the EU called on Russia, on Monday 31 October, to revoke its decision to suspend its participation in the international agreement to dispose of Ukrainian grain production.
“Russia is aggravating the global food crisis caused by its aggression against Ukraine”, said Catherine Colonna, the French Foreign Minister.
The High Representative of the Union, Josep Borrell, also called on Russia to respect the agreement “to allow the maritime corridor to move food around the world”. The EU will play its part in averting the global food crisis, Mr Borrell promised.
The EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, supported the UN’s efforts to keep the agreement alive.
Solidarity lanes. Agricultural products transported through the EU/Ukraine ‘solidarity lanes’ have amounted to 14 million tonnes since May, according to a European Commission spokesperson, while non-agricultural products have amounted to around 15 million tonnes. The ‘solidarity lanes’ are intended to allow Ukraine to export its grain, but also to import the goods it needs (humanitarian aid, animal feed and fertiliser).
On the ground, several cargo ships loaded with cereals have entered the humanitarian maritime corridor towards the Bosphorus and Turkey.
Russia announced on 29 October that it was suspending the agreement, which came into force on 1 August and expires on 19 November. It has resulted in the export of over 9.3 million tonnes of grain and other products from Ukraine.
The Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, assured on Monday that he would continue to defend the deal. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)