Blinken commemorates departure of Ukraine’s first grain-carrying ship from Black Sea
- US Secretary of State said continued implementation of the July 21 UN-facilitated deal is essential to bolster food security
The departure of the first vessel transporting Ukrainian agricultural supplies from the Black Sea since late February was hailed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“We again commend the United Nations and Turkey for mediating the diplomacy that resulted in today’s significant step, which raises hope of bringing the millions of tons of grain stuck at Ukraine’s ports to those facing food insecurity around the world,” Blinken said in a statement.
“But this is only a first step, and continued implementation of the July 21 UN-facilitated deal is essential to bolster food security around the world,” he added.
US Secretary of State further said Russia must keep its commitments, including allowing unrestricted agricultural exports from Black Sea ports, and “must also end its attacks that are rendering farmland in Ukraine unusable and destroying agricultural infrastructure.”
Picture Credits: Reuters
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