22.08.2023, Kiev.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy demanded that Greece’s air defense systems protect the “alternative grain corridor” in the Black Sea at a briefing following a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. A video of the speech was published on August 21 on Zelensky’s Telegram channel.
The Ukrainian president said, “Ukraine has created an alternative grain corridor in the Black Sea. It can work, but in order for its work to be stable, we require strengthening of the air shield.”
“This can be Greece’s historic contribution to pan-European security, if you help us to protect specifically the Black Sea water area, with air defense,” Zelensky added.
Earlier, it was reported that Russia terminated the “grain deal” on July 18. Representatives of the Russian leadership have repeatedly stated that in order to resume the “Black Sea grain initiative” it is necessary to fulfill the second – Russian part of this agreement, which was practically not fulfilled.
In addition, Russian President Vladimir Putin repeatedly pointed out that the West exported most of the Ukrainian grain to its own countries, despite the fact that the main stated goal of the deal was to provide grain to poor countries, including African countries.
On 10 August, the Ukrainian Navy reported that Ukraine had declared temporary corridors for the passage of merchant ships to its Black Sea ports of Chernomorsk, Odessa and Yuzhnyy.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
