The United States is working with Romania and Moldova to increase Ukraine’s grain exports through the Danube while seeking alternative routes for shipments after Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grains Initiative, a senior US State Department official said.
NATO territorial waters
“We are striving to promote alternative routes: this is the most prominent task now, the Danube route. This route remains within NATO territorial waters. So it is very attractive for us because it is a safer corridor. This route could bring a significant surplus, it is possible that we will try to double the amount of this route.“- said the anonymous official.
A meeting will be held with the Romanians and Moldovans in the coming weeks to discuss how to maximise the capacity of the Danube route, the official said.
Washington is also working with Türkiye to support its efforts to bring Russia back into the grain agreement, the official added. “We’re not directly involved in the negotiations, but our staff is working closely with the UN and the Turks to try to restart shipments.”
Türkiye is trying to persuade Russia
Türkiye has been trying to persuade Russia to return to the Grains Agreement, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to visit Russia soon to discuss the possible future of the agreement.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will also meet this week to discuss Moscow’s proposal for an alternative to the Black Sea Grains Agreement, Lavrov’s ministry said.
Under the plan, Russia would send one million tonnes of grain to Turkey at preferential prices, with financial support from Qatar, which would be processed in Turkey and sent to the countries most in need, the international agricultural press reported, citing the British news agency Thomson Reuters.
It was not clear what incentive Qatar would have to participate in Russia’s proposed deal to provide free grain to six African countries after the collapse of the grain trade.
According to the Russian statement, Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s position that any ship bound for Ukraine after the collapse of the grain deal would potentially be considered a military cargo carrier.
Source: Agroforum