This photo handled September 20, 2023 reveals trains with Ukrainian grain saved in wagons covered with white tarpaulin on the 2nd and 3rd tracks in Dorohusk station at the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Damien Simonart|AFP|Getty Images
Ukraine requires more air defenses to safeguard its grain export paths along with areas surrounding Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Saturday, as he dealt with a global top on food security in Kyiv.
“There is a deficit of air defense – that is no secret,” Zelenskyy informed the Grain from Ukraine top, which was participated in by senior authorities from European nations, consisting of Swiss President Alain Berset and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte.
Zelenskyy was speaking after Russia assaulted Ukraine with 75 drones over night, the greatest drone attack of the war. The joint interview of the 3 leaders was interrupted by another air raid siren.
Zelenskyy stated Ukraine would be provided by its foreign partners with vessels to accompany convoys of freight ships from Ukraine’s ports to ensure their security.
“I have agreements with several countries about powerful accompaniment of convoys by Ukrainians, but using (foreign) equipment,” he stated.
Separately, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed assistance in a letter to Zelenskyy that she shared on social networks platform X, stating the Commission would offer 50 million euros for “quick repairs and upgrades of infrastructure in Ukraine’s ports.”
The Ukrainian president stated Kyiv wanted to fix its air defense scarcity through brand-new products from partners and increasing its own production capability, something on which he stated there had actually been development.
“As of today, I can’t say details what we are making and where, but there is progress,” he stated.
Ukraine, a significant exporter of grain, has actually been exporting grain by means of unilateral passages through the Black sea, after Russia withdrew in July from a UN-brokered offer to permit grain ships through its blockade.
Ukraine’s present Black sea grain export passages all begin with ports in Ukraine’s southern area of Odesa.
“There are certain air defense systems… we are asking for them,” Zelenskyy stated. “We’ve already got an answer when those systems will start to guard that region. Because there, both the corridor and the people are important.”
Asked about the demonstrations by Polish and Slovak truckers which have actually obstructed much of Ukraine’s road-based freight supply in current days, Zelenskyy blamed the issue on the internal politics of those nations.
“I believe that there are difficulties on the border first and foremost because of certain political steps by our neighbors,” he informed an interview after the top.
Zelenskyy stated he was positive the problem would be resolved if Ukraine’s next-door neighbors were provided “a bit of time” to handle the disagreement.
