Ukraine seeks new export routes after sea blockade

Ukraine has intensified efforts to find alternative export routes after Russia blocked the maritime corridor in the Black Sea, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said, Report informs via RBC-Ukraine.

Sybiha said Kyiv has already appealed to allies and partners for assistance in restoring Ukrainian maritime exports by increasing pressure on Moscow.

He noted that Russia's attacks on civilian vessels threaten not only Ukraine's exports but also the lives of crew members, most of whom are foreign nationals.

The Ukrainian foreign minister described the situation as a serious challenge for the country's economy and said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had ordered the expansion of the European Union's "Solidarity Lanes" program.

"We are currently holding active consultations with all our neighbors - Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland. We are discussing how to expand infrastructure and create the necessary conditions to help Ukraine transport grain to third markets," Sybiha said.

He stressed that the main goal remains ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of Ukrainian products to final consumers.

Sybiha also recalled that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine had previously contributed to a 25% increase in the global food price index.