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EU chief diplomat hopes for Ukraine grain deal ‘this week’

Josep Borrell, EU Foreign Affairs Representative

18 July 2022 13:02 (UTC +04:00)

The EU’s chief diplomat hopes for a deal “this week” on allowing Ukrainian grain to be exported from Black Sea ports, potentially unblocking supplies of food to global markets curbed by Russia’s operation, APA reports citing Financial Times.

Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s Black Sea coastline have prevented ships from accessing the country’s ports, leaving millions of tonnes of grain stranded amid fears of a major food crisis. “I have a hope that this week it will be possible to reach an agreement to unblock Odesa and other Ukrainian ports,” said Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative. “The life of thousands, more than thousands, tens of thousands of people depends on this agreement. It is not a diplomatic game. It is an issue of life or death for many.”