Ukraine Wants to Export Grains on the Danube – Serbia Part of New Grain Route Too?

Ukraine is seeking the removal of bureaucratic obstacles and cooperation with the other countries along the Danube route, so as to use the river as an alternative route for the export of grains to the European Union, because Russia does not allow the export through ports on the Black Sea.

Ukraine, one of the world’s biggest exporters of grains and sunflower oil, reached an agreement with Russia this July on the free transport of cargo with agricultural products from the blocked ports.

On Saturday, Russia announced its withdrawal from the agreement due to the attack of the Ukrainian army on its ships on Crimea, where the Russian military navy is docked. Ihor Korkhovyi, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine on European Integration, said that several Ukrainian ports had already been prevented from exporting grains even before Russia’s withdrawal from the agreement.

– Large exporting ports such as Mariupol or Kherson are occupied, and the Mykolaiv port is not operational for safety reasons. So, four or five ports are out of use – Korkhovyi stated in an interview for Hina.