Kuleba discussed with IMO Secretary General the export of stolen Ukrainian grain by Russia

Oleksiy Kuleba discussed with the Secretary General of the IMO the safety of shipping and the protection of Ukrainian ports.

This was reported by the Ministry of Development.

Deputy Prime Minister for the Reconstruction of Ukraine – Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba, during a working visit to London, met with the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez. The parties discussed the security situation in the maritime sector, the resilience of Ukraine’s port infrastructure, and international coordination in response to Russia’s actions.

During the meeting, Oleksiy Kuleba emphasized that Russia attacks Ukrainian ports, civilian vessels, and logistics routes almost daily, so strengthening shipping safety and protecting port infrastructure are critically important not only for Ukraine, but also for global trade and food security.

The parties paid special attention to the implementation of the IMO for Ukraine technical assistance project, which has become an important practical tool for supporting Ukraine’s maritime industry in the face of a full-scale war.

They also discussed the issue of countering the Russian “shadow fleet”, which poses a threat to international security at sea and systematically violates international standards and rules of navigation. The Minister raised the topic of illegal export of Ukrainian grain from temporarily occupied territories, in particular the facts of Russian vessels entering the ports of individual IMO member states with stolen grain, and stressed the need to introduce effective mechanisms for monitoring such shipments.

“Despite constant shelling, Ukrainian ports continue to operate stably within the Ukrainian Sea Corridor. Ukraine remains a maritime state and a guarantor of global food security. I am grateful to the International Maritime Organization and personally to the Secretary General for their consistent support – with joint efforts we will protect Ukrainian ports and the principles of free navigation,” said Oleksiy Kuleba.

The Minister thanked the International Maritime Organization for its solidarity with Ukraine and confirmed his readiness for further cooperation to strengthen security in the Black Sea region and at the global level.

Previously, USM reported that the International Maritime Organization officially launched the IMO for Ukraine project.