Baltic states demand EU block Russian grain transit
Photo: Baltic states call on the EU to block grain transit from Russia (Getty Images)
The Baltic states are demanding that the EU ban the transit of Russian grain through its territory to stop the funding of the war against Ukraine, states Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda sent a joint letter to European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
In it, they called for an immediate ban on the transit of grain products from Russia.
"Russia is bombing Ukrainian ports and blocking Ukrainian grain from reaching global markets, while seeking to earn revenue by transporting its own grain through the EU. Our infrastructure must not help Russia finance its war. We must increase pressure on the aggressor and help Ukraine bring its goods to global markets," emphasized Kristen Michal.
She also announced that she would raise this issue at the European Council meeting next week.
In the letter, the leaders of the three countries emphasized that Russia is deliberately attacking Ukrainian cargo ships, railways, and trade routes in an attempt to undermine Ukraine's economy.
At the same time, Russia is seeking new export routes, including via the Baltic Sea.
The Baltic states are calling on the EU not to allow Russia to offset the economic consequences of its aggression, and to prevent the export of grain stolen from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine through EU territory.
Furthermore, the leaders of the Baltic countries called for the strengthening of the Solidarity Lanes between the EU and Ukraine to support Ukrainian trade and the export of goods to global markets.
Türkiye has proposed peace initiatives for Ukraine and Russia regarding the safety of navigation in the Black Sea.
The main goal of this proposal is to provide guarantees for the delivery of grain from the region. According to the Turkish side, the initiative remains relevant, but Ankara is awaiting an appropriate response from the participants.
Earlier, in the Black Sea near Romania, drones attacked a civilian Turkish vessel carrying Ukrainian grain that was heading to Italy. As a result of the attack, one crew member was killed, and others are reported missing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the incident, emphasizing the unacceptability of strikes on civilian infrastructure and grain routes.
