Cargo ship defies Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s ports.
A Milestone Defiance: Ukrainian Cargo Ship Breaks Russia’s Blockade
A civilian cargo ship has successfully sailed through a “new humanitarian corridor” out of Odesa, marking a significant milestone in Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s blockade of its port cities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to announce this historic moment.
“Ukraine has just made an important step toward restoring the freedom of navigation in the Black Sea,” Zelensky posted. “The first civilian vessel has passed through Ukraine’s new humanitarian corridor, departing from the port of Odesa. It’s currently on its way to the Bosporus.”
This voyage is the first passage out of a Ukrainian port since Russian President Vladimir Putin scuttled the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a United Nations-brokered deal that allowed Ukraine to export its vast food stores to global markets. By restricting Ukrainian food supplies, Russia aimed to raise the global cost of the war. However, the departure of the Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship raises questions about the effectiveness of their blockade.
“The good thing is that the grain deal seems to work without Russia,” said Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Oleksandr Merezhko. “Maybe the pressure on it was so serious that Russia doesn’t risk attacking Ukrainian ships anymore.”
While the immediate implications for grain exports are largely symbolic, regular departures from Ukrainian ports could embolden the export industry. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other U.S. officials have expressed concerns about the willingness of international transportation and insurance companies to take the risk of traveling to and from Ukrainian ports without Russian security guarantees. Nevertheless, the departure of the Joseph Schulte cargo ship on Wednesday signifies a significant step forward.
“The value is to show that Russia is not almighty and they are not controlling the situation on the Black Sea,” a senior European official stated. ”It’s also showing, of course, others also, that it’s possible. But still, the risks are high.”
The Joseph Schulte had been trapped in Odesa since Putin launched the campaign to overthrow the Ukrainian government on Feb. 24, 2022. Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov explained that this transport corridor would primarily be used to evacuate ships that were in Ukrainian ports at the time of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Russian authorities, however, have not given up on their intent to keep Ukrainian food supplies off global shelves. They recently bombarded a pair of Ukrainian ports near the Romanian border, attempting to disrupt a Danube River route that could potentially transport Ukrainian grain into NATO-territory waters.
“This escalation demonstrates that Moscow continues to prevent grain and foodstuffs from reaching those who need it most throughout the world,” said State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel. “Our Ukrainian partners are inspiring the world while Russia starves it by weaponizing food.”
NATO allies are doing what they can to alleviate the pressure within the limits set by trans-Atlantic hesitance to directly challenge the Russian blockade. NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu confirmed that coastal bordering allies have deployed ships to find and neutralize mines in the Black Sea, ensuring the protection of human lives and commercial shipping.
Russian leaders have openly expressed their intent to undermine international support for Ukraine by blockading its food exports while making their own deliveries to their “friends” around the world. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev referred to food as a “quiet weapon” when outlining this strategy last year. Russian forces have also targeted Ukrainian grain and agricultural infrastructure within Ukraine.
“A safe sea for all,” Zelensky emphasized. “This is Ukraine’s and our partners’ principled stance. Freedom and safety of navigation are fundamental international principles.”
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