Ukraine is ready to share experience in using drones for maritime security, – Sybiha

In particular, Ukraine is ready to share its experience in using drones to create a maritime security architecture, as well as in agriculture.

This was announced by Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha at the opening of the IV International Summit on Food Security “Food from Ukraine”.

According to him, Ukraine will continue to play a key role in global food security, which, in particular, consists of the security of supply chains and maritime exports.

The Minister noted that reliable sea and land corridors are the basis of the expected supplies.

“The war has taught us that both formats should work – sea and land routes. In particular, it is important to continue to defend freedom of navigation, demining and the general security of the Black Sea region. It is absolutely clear that as long as the Crimean peninsula remains occupied and militarized by Russia, we will not achieve full security in the Black Sea. Therefore, the deoccupation of Crimea should be at the center of all Black Sea strategies,” said Andriy Sybiha.

In particular, the Foreign Minister emphasized that in the coming years, the demand for food will grow, especially rapidly, primarily in Africa, south of the Sahara.

“Ukraine is ready, together with governments, regional development banks and the private sector, to move from one-time supplies to the development of local infrastructure, processing and logistics hubs, irrigation systems, mechanization of digital solutions, and training of specialists,” the Minister added.

According to him, the self-sufficiency of partners in food security is “the fundamental ultimate goal of Ukraine and the guarantee that they will never face the threat of hunger.”

“We are ready to share our experience, in particular the experience of using drones, both to create a maritime security architecture and directly in agriculture,” said Sybiga.

He also noted that it is necessary to effectively counteract those who disrupt the balance of food security.

“Russia uses food as a weapon. Russia seeks to turn the Black Sea into a gray zone of its influence, its actions violate a number of provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. At the same time, we understand that more can be done to counter the aggressor. We support sanctions against Russia for the export and trade in stolen grain. But we urge not to use international trading platforms to sell stolen grain,” the minister stressed.

Andriy Sybiga also emphasized the importance of preventing Russia from being re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organization.

As previously reported by USM, soon the member states of the International Maritime Organization will vote on the composition of the Council, and Ukraine calls not to return Russia to the organization.