August 18 (SeeNews) - Romanian prime minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Friday that over 60% of Ukrainian grain could be exported via Romania following Russia’s exit from a UN-brokered deal guaranteeing safe passage for exports through the Black Sea.
“Together, we have set out an ambitious target – the doubling in the next period of the volume of Ukrainian grain transited through Romania from 2 million tonnes per month to 4 million tonnes,” Ciolacu said in a live broadcast of a joint press conference following a meeting with Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal.
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Following Russia’s exit from a UN-brokered deal guaranteeing safe passage for exports through the Black Sea, threats to global food security and Ukraine’s economy have increased, Ciolacu added.
Romania will focus on developing its transit capacity through existing corridors such as the Sulina Canal and the port of Constanta.
Any measures taken at the national or European level will balance the need to support Ukraine and the legitimate concerns of Romanian farmers, Ciolacu stressed.
Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have suspended imports of Ukrainian grain until September 15 in an effort to protect local farmers. On July 25, the five countries called on the EU to extend the ban beyond the current deadline that was agreed upon with the European Commission.