Ukraine is preparing sanctions over the export of grain stolen by Russia to Israel, says Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the trade in grain stolen by Russia from temporarily occupied territories is unacceptable. Ukraine is preparing new sanctions against those involved in such schemes.
The President of Ukraine announced this in a statement.
The statement emphasizes that in a number of countries around the world, the acquisition of stolen property entails legal liability, and this also applies to Ukrainian grain illegally exported by Russia.
According to Ukrainian sources, another ship carrying such cargo has arrived at an Israeli port and is preparing to unload. Kyiv emphasizes that such operations cannot be considered legitimate business, and the relevant government agencies must be informed of the cargo’s origin.
Ukraine states that Russia systematically exports grain from the occupied territories with the involvement of individuals affiliated with it, and these actions violate international law and the domestic legislation of the states through which the transport takes place.
Kyiv emphasizes that it has already taken diplomatic measures to prevent such incidents, yet the situation continues to recur. In this regard, Ukraine has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inform international partners about the incident.
It is also reported that, based on intelligence data, a sanctions package is being prepared that will cover both carriers and individuals and legal entities involved in illegal operations with stolen grain. Ukraine plans to coordinate these actions with European partners to include the relevant individuals on EU sanctions lists.
Kyiv emphasizes that it counts on respect for bilateral relations and international law, and expects that partners, particularly Israel, will not facilitate schemes that could harm Ukraine and international security.
The European Union may impose sanctions against individuals and companies suspected of facilitating the transport of grain, exported from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, to the port of Haifa (Israel).
As a reminder, the European Union has expanded sanctions against Belarus as part of a new, 20th package of restrictions targeting Russia and its allies. The decision affects Belarus’s defense sector, as well as entities that, according to the EU’s assessment, support Russia’s war against Ukraine. For the first time, a Chinese organization linked to Belarusian military production has also been added to the list.
On April 23, EU member states approved the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, which imposes restrictions on 46 vessels of the “shadow fleet” and 60 entities supporting the Russian military-industrial complex. The new measures include stricter export restrictions on dual-use goods and sanctions against 20 credit and financial institutions.
