Zelenskyy says Black Sea grain corridor in doubt without US aid
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"We ... created the new route in the Black Sea," Zelenskyy told CNN in an interview, describing the shipping corridor as a "big success" for so far allowing the export of about 30 million tonnes of grain and other agricultural products.
But he warned that if the US Congress did not approve US$60 billion in new security aid then the future of the shipping corridor would be in doubt. The United Nations blamed Russia's invasion of Ukraine two years ago for worsening a global food crisis. Ukraine and Russia are both major grain exporters.
"I think the route will be closed ... because to defend it, it's also about some ammunition, some air defence, and some other systems," Zelenskyy said.
Conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives are threatening to block further military aid. Ukraine is running short of personnel and ammunition, especially heavy artillery rounds, and it has lost ground after retaking about half of the territory Russia seized when it invaded in February 2022.
Ukraine harvested about 80 million tons of grain and oilseeds in 2023, including an exportable surplus of about 50 million tons in the 2023/24 July to June season, the country's government has said.
