International

Zelensky, Macron discuss grain corridor, security in Odessa

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed on Sunday ways to ensure the functioning of the grain corridor established by Kyiv in the Black Sea, which would allow for safe navigation after Russia's withdrawal from the grain export agreement, AFP and Agerpres reported.

"We also discussed ways to ensure the functioning of the grain corridor and to strengthen the security of the Odessa region," Zelensky said on his X channel after the phone conversation with Macron.

The phone call took place on the eve of the Sochi summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who wants to revive the grain agreement, and after Russian drones bombed the Odessa region on Saturday night.

This week, Ukraine said that four more ships had used the provisional sea corridor established last month.

Zelensky also thanked Macron for France's "crucial military support" for his country and said they discussed "next steps" in this area.

Macron "reiterated France's determination to continue to support Ukraine in the long term, at the military, industrial and economic levels, so that Ukraine can fully recover its sovereignty," the French presidency said.

"In this perspective and following the commitments made in the G7 format in Vilnius in July last year, the President of the Republic and the President of Ukraine decided to launch discussions on a bilateral agreement," the Elysee Palace added.

In July, G7 countries, including France, pledged long-term military support for Ukraine, negotiated by each country with Kyiv under the terms of bilateral agreements on the weapons they will provide.

In his Sunday evening video address, Zelensky also said that he had reached a "very important agreement on the training of our pilots in France," without specifying what kind of training it is, according to Reuters.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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