The British government is in talks with Ukraine about the possibility of getting grain out of the country, now that Russia has blocked the main export ports.
Transport Minister Grant Shapps said on Tuesday he was in contact with his Ukrainian colleague Oleksander Kubrakov about alternatives.
Shapps said he was very concerned about grain supplies from Ukraine, which is one of the world’s leading exporters. According to Minister Kubrakov, about 25 million tons of grain cannot leave the country because of the Russian invasion. Since the beginning of May, the country attacked by Russia has exported 643,000 tons of grain, Ukraine’s agriculture ministry recently reported. That was 1.8 million tons in the same period in 2021.
Many countries, for example in North Africa, depend on cheap wheat from Ukraine. Recently, Germany accused the Russians of using hunger as a weapon in the fight against Ukraine. Shapps also emphasizes the importance of a good supply route for Ukrainian grain. “It’s essential, otherwise there could be a lot of hunger or even a famine.”
The British minister said he was unable to make any statements about the details that he is in consultation with the Ukrainian government to secure exports. “We’re looking at all options. There are all kinds of potential ways to get the grain and other resources out of the country.”