Zelenskiy: First Grain Ship ‘Nothing’, More Ships Are Needed ASAP

By Natalia Zinets (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy dismissed the importance of the first grain exportshipment from his country since Russia invaded, saying it was carrying a fraction of the crop Kyiv must sell to help salvage its shattered economy.

His downbeat comments, via video to students in Australia on Wednesday, came as an inspection of the ship was completed in Turkey before it continues to its final destination in Lebanon under a deal aimed at easing a global food crisis.

The ship, Razoni, departed from Ukraine’s Odesa port on the Black Sea early on Monday carrying 26,527 tonnes of corn to Lebanon’s Tripoli. It followed a U.N.-brokered grain and fertilizer export agreement between Moscow and Kyiv last month – a rare diplomatic breakthrough in a drawn-out war of attrition.

But Zelenskiy, speaking via an interpreter, said more time was needed to see whether other grain shipments would follow.

“Just recently, thanks to the UN in partnership with Turkey, we had a first ship with the delivery of grain, but its still nothing. But we hope its a tendency that will continue, he told the students.

The Joint Coordination Centre officials board Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship Razoni, carrying Ukrainian grain, for an inspection in the Black Sea, off Kilyos, near Istanbul, Turkey August 3, 2022. Turkish Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

Also Read: Shipping Procedures Into Ukr....