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Ukraine's Deputy Minister Markian Dmytrasevych says Ukraine is not only in need of more overland grain export routes, but also urgently needs generators to generate electricity. With the Russians bombing the power stations, large parts of the countryside are without power. As a result, cooling installations and all kinds of other equipment fail; especially in livestock and poultry.
Deputy Minister Dmytrasevych has also asked the MEPs of the Agriculture Committee for permanent overland exports. According to him, Ukraine cannot count on reliable exports across the Black Sea, now that Russia threatens not to renew the Black Sea agreement. So far, 3.9 million tons of grain have been transported to foreign markets via Odessa.
There are currently more than 100 empty and loaded grain ships waiting for international inspection at Ukrainian ports. Due to the delays, Ukraine has so far been able to export 3 million tons of grain less than expected. This is enough to feed 10 million people.
Therefore, Ukraine asks the EU to seek expansion of the export corridors not only in rail transport, but especially by road. The current method by train with multiple transshipments and storage is time consuming and very expensive. Transport costs that used to be $40 a ton have now risen to $200 a ton, the deputy minister said.
The Ukrainian government is also asking for European support for the construction of a pipeline to the (northern) Polish coast on the Baltic Sea for the transport of sunflower oil. The country could also use help in clearing gebieden that have been cleared by the Russians.
Ukraine's reconstruction requires a strategy similar to the Marshall Plan after World War II. So said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, after a donor conference in Berlin. Ukraine will receive about 1.5 billion euros each month from the European Union next year to pay for the country's running costs.
