Ukraine urgently needs assistance to export millions of tons of grain, as attacks on ports and ships have entered their third month. Ukraine's Minister of Agriculture, Taras Vysotsky, traveled to Brussels this week to directly request help from his counterparts in the European Union.
Need for Financial and Transportation Assistance
Ukraine needs to be able to transport more agricultural products through Europe and requires €1.1 billion to cover high transportation costs. Without this assistance, farmers facing financial difficulties will not be able to prepare for the next planting season, complicating the problem further.
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Vysotsky stated, "This issue is very critical." However, the response from neighboring countries like Poland and Romania, which have the essential infrastructure to increase transportation and storage capacity, was negative. Romanian Agriculture Minister Barna Tanczos said, "The interests of our farmers come first."
Disruption of Grain Exports and Global Food Crisis
The actions of these countries reflect the gap between the European Union's goals to support Ukraine and domestic political realities. Ukraine, as one of the world's breadbaskets, poses a real threat to the livelihoods of European farmers. According to Vysotsky, currently, less than half of Ukraine's grain exports are able to leave through European transportation routes, and if this situation continues, up to 35 million tons of grain may remain in Ukraine.
While some capitals have volunteered to provide more support, immediate assistance to Ukraine does not seem forthcoming. EU Agriculture Commissioner Christoph Hansen stated, "We need to address this issue," but made no commitment for immediate help.
Reports indicate that the current crisis in the Black Sea could affect over 17% of the grain traded globally. This situation could lead to more people suffering from severe hunger due to this crisis than the recorded casualties in the Russia-Ukraine war.
European farmers are also facing serious challenges. For instance, Iulia Blago, a Romanian grain farmer, spoke about her difficult situation, stating, "We are currently facing unharvested fields that are left to the fate of God and the weather."
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