Zelenskyy says Ukraine needs more air defense systems to protect grain corridor

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his country needs more air defense systems in order to protect the grain corridor that has been operational since Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July.

“We still need a very specific number of systems with a very specific name. The request has been made. We have a positive response when these systems start to protect that region. Because both the corridor and the people there are important,” Zelenskyy said at a press briefing following the “Grain From Ukraine” summit in Kyiv on Saturday.

Expressing the grain corridor continued to operate despite the challenges, Zelenskyy said Russia has little influence over the corridor.

"We have a clear corridor and cooperation for its use with Bulgaria, Romania, and Türkiye. We have agreements with the United Kingdom, involved in insuring this corridor,” he added.

Ukraine has an agreement with several states for the escort of vessels by Ukrainian boats, he said, adding that the country is already receiving naval boats specifically for this purpose.

Zelenskyy also announced the extension of the "Grain from Ukraine" food program, which he launched last November, saying $100 million has already been raised for its objectives.

The program aims to supply Ukrainian grain to countries in Africa and Asia facing malnutrition and hunger.

On July 17, Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain deal, saying that the Russian part of the agreement had not been implemented. It sought the loosening of banking restrictions and the ability to ship its fertilizer before returning to the agreement.​​​​​​​

The agreement, initially signed in July of last year in Istanbul by Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine, was aimed at resuming grain exports from Ukrainian ports halted due to the Russia-Ukraine war, which began in February 2022.

In August, Ukraine declared that temporary corridors have been established for merchant vessels arriving at and departing from the country’s ports in the Black Sea.