FM Odobescu: Romania expands a key route for grain from Ukraine

Russia’s withdrawal from the grain deal and attacks on port infrastructure have raised concerns about food security in Africa. Amid this background, the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, told the Bloomberg news agency that Romania can now open new border crossing points from the neighboring country, increase the staff at the existing crossings and bring in retired and military pilots to speed up the transit of ships on the Danube, Realitatea.net reports.

The Romanian port of Constanta, the largest EU port on the Black Sea, is currently the best option for Ukrainian companies due to its proximity and cost level. “Our country is ready to quickly develop alternative routes for the export of Ukrainian grain, after Russia withdrew from the agreement for safe transportation on the Black Sea and threatens to attack ships headed for Ukrainian ports,” Odobescu said.

FM Luminiţa Odobescu also told Bloomberg that Romania can now open new border crossing points from the neighboring country, increase the staff at the existing crossings and bring retired and military pilots to speed up the transit of ships on the Danube. Romania has a substantial role in the transit of grain and agricultural products from Ukraine, as 20 million tons of grain have already passed through Romania.

“Romania has already played a key role in the transit of grain from Ukraine to the countries that need it. We emphasize the fact that almost 20 million tons have already transited and if we compare with the other 33 million tons of the Black Sea Agreement, facilitated by The UN and Turkey, from which Russia has just left, it is very clear that Romania plays an essential role in this process of further helping Ukraine. We will continue and increase these efforts to help Ukraine take its grain to where it is need. What Russia is doing in the Black Sea endangers the entire global food security,” said Luminiţa Odobescu, according to the quoted source.

Romania has already facilitated the transit of over 20 million tons of grain from Ukraine, approximately half of the amount transported on the so-called solidarity roads since the beginning of the Russian invasion.