Sybiga Warned the UN of New Risks to Ukrainian Ports
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga discussed Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and civilian vessels with Karl Skau, Acting Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Program. They also discussed the situation around the Strait of Hormuz and the risks to global trade and food supply routes.
Sybiga briefed the UN representative on Russia’s massive attack on Kyiv, as well as on the situation in Ukraine amid ongoing missile and drone strikes on cities and critical infrastructure. The parties also focused specifically on Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian ports, maritime infrastructure, and civilian vessels.
According to Sibiga, the maritime grain corridor is of great importance to Ukraine. Through it, the country can continue to export food even during a full-scale war. But the problem is not limited to Ukraine alone. If the operation of ports and maritime routes is seriously disrupted, it could affect food supplies, prices, and international trade. “For Ukraine, maintaining the operation of our maritime grain corridors is vital for the economy. But the consequences of disruptions to their operations extend far beyond Ukraine and Europe—they affect food security, prices, and supply chains around the world,” Sibiga emphasized.
They also discussed the Strait of Hormuz
Another topic of discussion was the situation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. This is one of the world’s key maritime routes, through which large volumes of international cargo and energy resources pass. Sibiga noted that the situations in the Black Sea and near the Strait of Hormuz have different causes but create a similar problem—a threat to vital maritime routes. “The circumstances are different, but the global challenge is the same: when vital maritime routes are threatened or blocked, the consequences quickly spread across borders and continents,” the foreign minister said.
He added that the security of these routes affects more than just the transport of goods. Food, energy, trade, and international supply chains could all be at risk. “Food, energy, trade, and global supply chains—all of these depend on these arteries remaining open and secure,” Sibiga emphasized.
Ukraine Calls for a Stronger International Response
According to the minister, the situation requires a joint response from the international community. Ukraine, in particular, wants guarantees for the safety of navigation in the Black Sea and the protection of maritime infrastructure. “We need international resolve to guarantee freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and protect global supply chains from disruptions,” Sibiga stated.
Following the discussion, Ukraine and the UN World Food Program agreed to continue their cooperation. “Freedom of navigation and global food security require collective solutions, and now is the time to work on them,” the Ukrainian foreign minister concluded. The Ukrainian foreign minister announced this on the social media platform X.
Following a request from Kyiv, Moldova has cut the transit tariff for Ukrainian cargo in half.
Ukraine is considering the possibility of transporting grain by rail through Moldova to the Romanian port of Constanța as a safer alternative to maritime exports. Kyiv has already appealed to Chișinău to establish a reduced tariff for such shipments.
As a reminder, grain exports from Ukraine could drop by more than half.
