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Hand over Ukrainian POWs in exchange for Russian ammonia exports – Zelenskyy

Friday, 16 September 2022, 20:38
Hand over Ukrainian POWs in exchange for Russian ammonia exports – Zelenskyy

EUROPEAN PRAVDA – FRIDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2022, 20:38

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine said on Friday that he would support the resumption of Russian ammonia exports via Ukraine’s territory only if Russia hands Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) over to Ukraine.

Source: Zelenskyy, in an interview with Reuters

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Details: "I oppose supplying ammonia from the Russian Federation through our territory. I would only do it in exchange for our prisoners. This is what I offered the UN," Zelenskyy said.

He also said that hundreds of Russian troops had been captured during Ukraine's counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast. Russia, however, holds more Ukrainian soldiers in custody than Ukraine has Russian prisoners of war.

Earlier, the UN has suggested resuming the transit of Russian ammonia across Ukraine to ease a global shortage of the fertiliser. The ammonia in question is produced by Uralchem, a Russian manufacturer of chemical products, and it would be transported, via a pipeline, to the city of Odesa in southern Ukraine, where it would be purchased by Trammo, a US commodities trader.

Dmytro Kuleba, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, confirmed that the UN had started negotiations on the resumption of ammonia exports via Ukraine. He added that Kyiv would not join any agreements that contradict Ukraine’s security interests.

The UN has presumably broached the issue of resuming the flow of ammonia via the pipeline between Russia and Ukraine in light of the recent statements by the Russian leadership regarding the "grain deal", which expires in November.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to limit the export of grain via the Black Sea, claiming that the majority of grain leaving Ukraine ends up in the EU rather than developing countries.

British Intelligence rejected Putin’s claims. According to UN figures, 30% of grain exported from Ukraine has been supplied to low and middle-income countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

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