The agreement between Ukraine, Türkiye and the United Nations on the Black Sea Grain Initiative remains in force, so our country is ready to continue the functioning of the "grain corridor". This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday during an interview with African media.
"We had two agreements: Ukraine, Türkiye, the UN, and another agreement – Russia, Türkiye, the UN. So when Russia says that it terminates (the agreement – ed.), it is breaking its agreements with UN Secretary-General Guterres and with President Erdoğan. Not with us. We had no agreements with them," the Head of State emphasized.
The President emphasized that Ukraine had not violated the agreements. He expressed confidence that even without Russia's participation, the grain corridor should be kept operational.
"Even without Russia, it is necessary to do everything to ensure that we can use this corridor. We are not afraid. We have been approached by ship owning companies. They said that if Ukraine lets out and Türkiye lets through, everyone is ready to continue supplying grain," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
"I have instructed our Ministry of Foreign Affairs - after the official signal from the Russian Federation - to prepare our official signals to the United Nations and to Türkiye so that they respond to me as to the President of Ukraine that they are ready to continue our initiative," he said.
The Head of State emphasized that Russia is blocking the work of the Black Sea Grain Initiative in order to put pressure on the global agricultural market.
"For Russia, this is a format of dumping on the grain and agricultural products market in order to block Ukraine and be the only major exporter from this region. It is absolutely clear: they use pressure to solve their political issues, and to make money for their companies. Pressure on the countries of Africa, Asia, and the European continent. They did the same with energy: gas, energy resources, oil," the President added.