This year, Russians have exported over 180,000 tons of stolen Ukrainian grain solely through the port of Mariupol.
During a Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated,
"Russia continues to use food as an element of aggression. Just through the port of Mariupol this year, the enemy has exported over 180,000 tons of stolen Ukrainian grain."
Shmyhal emphasized that Russia continues to plunder occupied territories to "finance its aggressive war with the stolen money." He noted that Russian economic terrorism will be one focus of the special tribunal addressing the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
He highlighted that traditionally, the agricultural sector leads Ukraine's exports and that Ukraine is ready to be a key guarantor of global food security. Nearly 57 million tons of the new harvest of grains, oilseeds, and sugar beets have already been harvested.
"Ukraine grows much more than it can consume, so we are assisting countries on various continents," the Prime Minister emphasized.
As of September 16, 2024, under the "Affordable Loans 5-7-9%" programme, 6,370 agricultural enterprises received over 30.7 billion UAH.
He also mentioned a significant episode when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced intentions to amend nuclear doctrine to allow for the use of nuclear weapons in response to attacks by non-nuclear states with conventional weapons.
"China, perhaps unexpectedly for some, issued a joint statement with 11 other states warning against the use of nuclear weapons. There is no doubt that this warning was directed at the dictator in the Kremlin. For us, this underscores the necessity of continuing dialogue—even when it seems a hopeless endeavor," said the First Vice President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
