Ukraine: Millions of tonnes of grain shipped via the Danube
Published: 05:08 PM,Aug 28,2022 | EDITED : 09:08 PM,Aug 28,2022
KIEV: Ukraine authorities said more grain is being shipped across the Danube River than at any point since the start of the war six months ago.
On Saturday alone, 11 ships made their way to the river ports of Izmail, Reni and Ust-Dunaysk and loaded aboard a total of 45,000 tonnes of grain, the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry said on Sunday.
Since March, more than 4 million tonnes of grain have already been taken out of the country through Ukraine's Danube ports, according to the ministry.
After the Russian attack began, focus turned to Ukraine's major Black Sea ports, which were blocked for months and resulted in millions of tonnes of grain unable to leave the country.
On July 22, Ukraine and Russia, under UN mediation, signed an agreement with Turkey to allow exports from Ukraine from three Black Sea ports, relieving pressure on global food markets.
The Istanbul Coordination Center, which was established under the deal, said at the weekend that 1 million tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs had been exported through the Black Sea route so far. A total of 103 ships had set sail either to or from Ukraine.
As noted by the Infrastructure Ministry, some grain has been diverted out via more cumbersome routes involving cargo ships transiting the Danube River toward Romania, or by rail.
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has reassured Ukraine of Germany's support in the war against Russia for years to come if necessary.
"Unfortunately, we have to assume that Ukraine will still need new heavy weapons from its friends next summer," Baerbock told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.
"Ukraine is also defending our freedom, our peace. And we support them financially and militarily - and for as long as it is necessary.Full stop," Baerbock said.
She also warned that the war "could go on for years," but added that Russian President Vladimir Putin had been delusional in thinking that Ukraine would fall within a few weeks.
Baerbock also defended Ukraine's claim to the Crimean Peninsula,which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. "Crimea also belongs to Ukraine. The world has never recognised the annexation of 2014,which was against international law."
Warning Germans against allowing war fatigue to set in six months since the conflict began, Baerbock conceded that people were "now feeling the consequences of Putin's energy war in their own pockets."
"The social division of Europe is part of Putin's warfare. We must prevent this. It will be a rocky road, but it is part of our political responsibility to cushion the social imbalances resulting from high energy prices."
Baerbock also categorically rejected demands made by some politicians in Germany for Berlin to approve the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline to allow for a greater volume of Russian gas deliveries to avert a gas crisis in Germany later this year. -- dpa
On Saturday alone, 11 ships made their way to the river ports of Izmail, Reni and Ust-Dunaysk and loaded aboard a total of 45,000 tonnes of grain, the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry said on Sunday.
Since March, more than 4 million tonnes of grain have already been taken out of the country through Ukraine's Danube ports, according to the ministry.
After the Russian attack began, focus turned to Ukraine's major Black Sea ports, which were blocked for months and resulted in millions of tonnes of grain unable to leave the country.
On July 22, Ukraine and Russia, under UN mediation, signed an agreement with Turkey to allow exports from Ukraine from three Black Sea ports, relieving pressure on global food markets.
The Istanbul Coordination Center, which was established under the deal, said at the weekend that 1 million tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs had been exported through the Black Sea route so far. A total of 103 ships had set sail either to or from Ukraine.
As noted by the Infrastructure Ministry, some grain has been diverted out via more cumbersome routes involving cargo ships transiting the Danube River toward Romania, or by rail.
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has reassured Ukraine of Germany's support in the war against Russia for years to come if necessary.
"Unfortunately, we have to assume that Ukraine will still need new heavy weapons from its friends next summer," Baerbock told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.
"Ukraine is also defending our freedom, our peace. And we support them financially and militarily - and for as long as it is necessary.Full stop," Baerbock said.
She also warned that the war "could go on for years," but added that Russian President Vladimir Putin had been delusional in thinking that Ukraine would fall within a few weeks.
Baerbock also defended Ukraine's claim to the Crimean Peninsula,which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. "Crimea also belongs to Ukraine. The world has never recognised the annexation of 2014,which was against international law."
Warning Germans against allowing war fatigue to set in six months since the conflict began, Baerbock conceded that people were "now feeling the consequences of Putin's energy war in their own pockets."
"The social division of Europe is part of Putin's warfare. We must prevent this. It will be a rocky road, but it is part of our political responsibility to cushion the social imbalances resulting from high energy prices."
Baerbock also categorically rejected demands made by some politicians in Germany for Berlin to approve the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline to allow for a greater volume of Russian gas deliveries to avert a gas crisis in Germany later this year. -- dpa