Ukraine called on European foreign ministers meeting in Kyiv on Monday 2 October to help it export its cereals via the Black Sea “at full capacity” (see EUROPE 13262/3). “If the European Union and Ukraine join forces to guarantee the security of this corridor (in the Black Sea), it will be able to operate at full capacity”, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told at a press conference.
According to him, the participants in the meeting of EU foreign ministers discussed the cereals issue in “great detail”. A maritime corridor through which Ukrainian grain can be exported to the world without Russia’s involvement is possible, argued Mr Kuleba.
He added that, with regard to Ukrainian grain exports to world markets, the ministers had “discussed relations with countries in Asia, Africa and South America”.
Ukraine presented its action plan to control cereal exports at the last meeting of the joint coordination platform on this subject on 28 September. The Commission’s objective is now to see this action plan implemented as quickly as possible, to help lift the unilateral restrictions imposed by Poland, Hungary and Slovakia on cereals from Ukraine (see EUROPE 13261/14). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)