US, Romania, Moldova work to boost Ukraine's Danube grain exports
The United States is working with Romania and Moldova to increase Ukraine's grain exports via the Danube River, a US official said Wednesday. The move comes as the United States is exploring alternative routes for grain exports after Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
"We're looking to support alternative routes: the most prominent one is the Danube route," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters. "This route remains in NATO territorial waters. So it's a very attractive one for us, because it stays in a safer corridor. It can bring a significant amount. We'll try to double the amount that goes on this route."
The official said the United States will meet with Romanian and Moldovan officials in the coming weeks to discuss how to maximize the Danube route.
Earlier this month, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said her country is working with its international partners to help Ukraine export its grain while also taking into account the interests of Moldovan farmers.
Russia suspended its participation in an agreement to transport grain for export via the Black Sea.
Signed in July 2022 in Istanbul, the Black Sea Initiative between Russia and Ukraine, under the auspices of Turkey and the United Nations, allowed the export of about 33 million tons of grain from Ukraine, despite the war.
In mid-July, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia is ready to return to the agreement to transport Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea if its demands are met "in full." He stressed that all the principles of Russia's participation in the agreement must be implemented without exception, otherwise extending it "no longer makes sense."
