Zelensky, before the Ukraine-NATO meeting on the topic of Black Sea security: We have already started preparations for an interoperability plan
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday evening that at the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting that will take place on Wednesday, the main topic of discussion will be the security of the Black Sea, Ukrainian ports and grain exports, and said that preparations for an interoperability plan have already begun with the North Atlantic Alliance, reports news.ro.
"Today we had a preparatory meeting, before the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, which will take place tomorrow (Wednesday - n.r.). The consultations focused particularly on security in the Black Sea - our ports and our grain exports. We have already started preparations - together with the Alliance - to put together an interoperability plan," Zelenskiy said in the evening video address to his compatriots.
On Tuesday, Zelenski also spoke with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak about protecting the port of Odesa and the southern regions of the Black Sea. “I discussed with Rishi about the possible steps, about the possible number of air defense batteries. The UK can become a leader whose help with air defense systems will guarantee real security. The world knows that the security of our ports on the Black Sea is the key to peace and stability on the world food market," Zelenski pointed out.
"Now is the time when it is important to muster determination, to resolve on security so that no one has to reap chaos in Africa or anywhere in the world. Food security is an important global priority and is part of the Ukrainian formula for peace," added Zelensky.
Ukraine's president announced on Saturday that he had asked NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg to convene a meeting of the newly formed NATO-Ukraine Council to discuss security in the Black Sea, particularly the operation of a corridor for Ukrainian grain exports. The request was made after Russia pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which provided safe transport for Ukrainian grain, and Russia focused its bombing on Ukrainian ports, particularly Odesa.
NATO later announced that it accepted Kiev's request, and the meeting will be held on Wednesday, at the level of ambassadors.
