Zelenskyy denies that Ukraine's Black Sea corridor is completely blocked

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Russia is trying to completely block Ukraine's maritime corridor in the Black Sea, but several ships are still entering and leaving Odesa's ports every day.

Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference of the Coalition of the Willing summit, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine

Quote: "There is no total blockade today; there is an attempt at a total blockade, but three or four ships a day enter and leave the Greater Odesa, despite the fact that they [the Russians – ed.] are striking port infrastructure". [Greater Odesa is a logistical and industrial hub in Odesa Oblast that combines three major ports – Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi – ed.]

Details: On 23 August, Zelenskyy stressed that Russia was the first to resume attacks on Ukraine's grain corridor, so strikes against Russian agricultural exports are justified.

Background:

• In early August, attacks on vessels, ports and terminals in the Black Sea had already begun disrupting the supply of grain and oil.
• On 14 August, it emerged that Ukraine had passed on, via a third party, a proposal to Russia for a mutual halt to attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea and was awaiting Moscow's response.
• However, on 24 August, Zelenskyy said that Russia is not willing to engage in a mutual halt to attacks on vessels carrying agricultural produce in the Black Sea, as Moscow wants to expand the deal to also cover attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.
• Following the Coalition of the Willing meeting held in Kyiv on 24 August, Zelenskyy also reported that Kyiv's international partners have pledged support for Ukraine through "military and energy aid packages".

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