Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Asia-Pacific's top defense summit that Kiev is for establishing a safe maritime corridor in the Black Sea, which would lift the blockade that has halted Ukrainian grain exports for months.
Answering a question about food security guarantees, Zelensky claimed it is only Russia that's blocking grain exports. "Russia is threatening the world with its maritime presence," said the leader. "We support the format of a safe transport corridor, maritime corridor, comprised of the ships of our partners," he noted.
The news comes several days after Russian Defence Minister Sergei Lavrov told Kiev to de-mine the water around its Black Sea ports to allow grain flow, accusing the country of blocking the trade corridors by installing naval mines.
