Solskyi: Ukraine is ready to continue the Grain Initiative without Russia

Ukraine has a “plan B” in case Russia withdraws from the Grain Agreement.

Ukraine will be ready to continue exporting agricultural products through the Black Sea within the framework if Moscow decides to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. This was stated by the Minister of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine Mykola Solskyi in an interview with Reuters.

In view of recent events, only legally it looks like the “grain corridor” is working. In fact, nothing special is happening there, Solsky noted.

According to the minister, Russia has already blocked the “Southern” port, which is the main one for the Grain initiative. Despite the agreement, only one ship a day departs from the ports of Great Odesa.

“If the situation remains unchanged in the future, then we will be ready for plan B, which depends on us, depends on the UN,” added Solsky

The Ukrainian government can offer insurance guarantees for carrier companies. For this purpose, a special insurance fund in the amount of about 547 million dollars has already been created. Shipowners can be “fairly confident” that the Ukrainian military and air defense “can do their job.”

“If we are completely blocked, which is almost the case, then carriers can go through this corridor with guaranteed insurance from our government. Shipowners can be sufficiently confident that the Ukrainian military and air defense can do their job,” the Minister emphasized.