Before meeting Putin with Erdogan
Selenskyj: Two ships overcome the naval blockade
09/03/2023, 00:10
Although Russia has withdrawn from the grain agreement, Ukraine is organizing a corridor for cargo ships. Despite the risk of being shot at, two cargo ships broke through the blockade, President Zelenskyy reported in his evening address.
Despite the Russian naval blockade, two more cargo ships have passed through the grain corridor set up by Kiev, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “Ukraine is restoring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea,” Zelenskyy said in the evening on Platform X (formerly Twitter). After Russia pulled out of the agreement to ship Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea, Kiev is trying to organize the export despite the risk of Moscow attacks. Russia had threatened to consider ships calling at Ukrainian ports as carrying military cargo. Leaving the Ukrainian ports is therefore considered a lower risk.
“I thank all our dockers and everyone who ensures the safe functioning of the corridor,” Zelenskyy said. He also called on the western allies to deliver even more anti-aircraft systems. “Together we can protect freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and beyond.” Also in his evening video message, Zelenskyy said that the security of the port region of Odessa, which is important for the export of Ukrainian goods to the world, had to be restored.
Selenskyj did not give any details about the ships that have now successfully sailed. However, the day before, the Internet portal Marinetraffic, which shows ship movements, showed how two freighters left the southern Ukrainian Black Sea port of Pivdenny, about 20 kilometers east of Odessa. Dozens of merchant ships have been stranded in Ukraine’s Black Sea ports since the Russian invasion began more than 18 months ago.
Erdogan meets Putin in Sochi
In the meantime, some freighters have been able to leave the ports as a result of the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain, but since mid-July Russia has suspended the agreement and reinstated the naval blockade. The Ukrainian Navy, on the other hand, set a coastal route for civilian ships to leave at the beginning of August. So far, two freighters have used this opportunity to leave the port of Odessa. Both survived the Black Sea passage unscathed.
Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Russian Black Sea metropolis of Sochi next Monday. It should also be about a possible resumption of the grain agreement.