Black Sea ceasefire: Kallas delivers strong message
Photo: Kaja Kallas (Getty Images)
The EU supports introducing a moratorium on military activities in the Black Sea. The measure is intended to help ensure the safe export of Ukrainian grain, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said during a press conference.
Maritime security was discussed during an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers held in Wicklow, Ireland.
Kallas said that Russian strikes on grain vessels in the Black Sea could trigger another global food security shock.
"I support the initiatives for a moratorium on Black Sea attacks," she said.
Kallas noted that the EU supports the export of Ukrainian grain through alternative transit routes.
"We are also looking to support storage inside Ukraine to protect global food security. But there is no substitute for the volumes that can be moved by sea," the diplomat said.
Earlier, The Telegraph reported that Russian strikes on civilian shipping and port infrastructure had sharply reduced activity at the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi.
For more details on how a halt to shipping caused by Russian attacks could affect the Ukrainian economy, what alternatives are available and how the ports could be unblocked, read RBC-Ukraine’s report.
