Russia's terrorist threats against Ukrainian grain shipments in the Black Sea has produced shortages of grain and other foodstuffs primarily to African nations. By using food as a weapon against Ukraine, the Kremlin hopes to both deny Ukraine income from the grain and to increase its own market share and income that they use for their war machine. So far, the threat has worked, but there appears to be a solution that's being slowly implemented, per Reuters:
"Ukraine is considering using its newly-tested wartime Black Sea export corridor for grain shipments after other cargo ships follow the first successful evacuation of a vessel on the route last week, a senior agricultural official said on Monday.
Russia has blockaded Ukrainian ports since it invaded its neighbour in Feb. 2022 and threatened to treat all vessels as potential military targets after pulling out of a U.N.-backed safe passage deal last month.
In response, Ukraine announced a 'humanitarian corridor' hugging the sea's western coastline near Romania and Bulgaria. A Hong Kong-flagged container ship stuck in Odesa port since the invasion travelled the route last week without being fired upon." (our emphasis)
By establishing a shipping corridor within the territorial waters of NATO allies Romania and Bulgaria, ships traveling to and from Ukrainian ports (including on the Danube River) should be comparatively safe from Russian attack. Such a corridor would benefit from escort / patrol boats from Romania and Bulgaria operating within their own waters in the Black Sea. Shipping insurers' readiness to insure grain shipments is key, and Ukraine has given over half a billion dollars for ship insurance. The cooperation of Turkey is also essential, as they control access to the Black Sea by treaty.
The safe passage of one ship is a positive development, but only a small step. NATO must be willing to step up and assure the integrity of its member's territorial waters in the Black Sea.
(photo: Hong Kong-flagged Joseph Schulte en route in Black Sea. Facebook / O. Kubrakov via Reuters)
