This month, 1,000 people chose to support the Kyiv Independent. Can we count on you, too?
Become a member
Skip to content
Edit post

AFP: Lithuania asks EU to use Baltic ports for Ukrainian grain exports

by Martin Fornusek July 24, 2023 11:52 PM 2 min read
Grain ship TQ Samsun in the Black Sea on July 17, 2023, in Istanbul, Turkey. Russia announced that it withdrew from the Grain Corridor Agreement, which was signed last year under the mediation of Turkey and the United Nations, which ensures the transportation of millions of tons of grain stuck in Ukrainian ports to the world. (Photo: Sercan Ozkurnazli/dia images via Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Lithuania has called on the European Union to use Baltic ports to export Ukrainian grain after the Black Sea Grain Initiative's collapse, Agence France Presse (AFP) reported on July 24.

In a letter sent to the European Commission and acquired by AFP, three Lithuanian ministers said that the Baltic Sea ports could "serve as a reliable alternative for transiting Ukrainian products, including cereals."

This could help to transport 25 million tonnes of grain annually, the Lithuanian officials believe.

Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative on July 17, effectively terminating the deal that allowed Ukraine to export its agricultural products amid the ongoing full-scale invasion.

Ukraine is one of the world's leading grain producers and exporters. The agreement, brokered by Turkey and the U.N. in July 2022, has played a crucial role in stabilizing food prices worldwide.

The EU promised to support Ukraine's efforts to export its agricultural products via the so-called "solidarity lanes," set up in May 2022 to assist Kyiv in shipping out its produce.

According to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the solidarity lanes facilitated the export of more than 45 million tonnes of grain, oilseed, and other products so far.

Croatia also offered its rail network and ports on the Adriatic Sea as an alternative route for Ukrainian grain, while Bulgaria and Greece reportedly discuss plans to transit Ukrainian agricultural produce by Bulgarian trains to Greek ports.

In its appeal, Lithuania has further asked the EU to cut red tape on Ukraine's border with Poland.

Together with the governments of Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, Warsaw called on the EU to prolong the ban on the sale of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds in these countries until the end of the year.

The measure was initially instituted by the EU in May and was later prolonged on June 5, set to expire by Sep. 15.

However, the five Central European members are not opposed to transiting Ukrainian agricultural products through their territory.

This Week in Ukraine Ep. 17 – Black Sea grain deal is dead. What can Ukraine do?
Episode #17 of our weekly video podcast “This Week in Ukraine” is dedicated to the Black Sea grain deal, how Russia weaponized it, and ultimately killed it. Host Anastasiia Lapatina is joined by the Kyiv Independent’s reporter Alexander Query. Listen to the audio version of the podcast on Apple, S…
Let’s see how far we can go?
We’ve been amazed by your support. We’ve reached our initial goal of finding 1,000 new paying members. We still have till the end of our birthday campaign — with more support, we can do even more good journalism. Over 13,000 people are standing behind us. Can we count on you, too?
Show us support this birthday month
Become a member
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.