The European Commission will allocate 50 million euros ($54,7 million) to restore Ukrainian ports affected by Russian attacks, according to the Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen.
“Despite the war, Ukraine keeps feeding the world. In this effort, you can count on the EU. We continue enhancing our Solidarity Lanes and will provide €50 million to repair your port infrastructure. Together we ship Ukrainian grain to the world,” she wrote on X/Twitter on 25 November.
In a letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attached to her message, Leyen said that despite the war, Ukraine “keeps feeding the world.”
The European Commission President further notes that Russia’s exit from the Black Sea Grain Initiative that allowed Ukraine safe grain exports and Russia’s persistent assaults on Ukrainian ports and infrastructure are “indeed a cause for deep concern” as they undermine the flow of global food supplies and for Ukraine’s economy.
Announcing the allocation of the €50 million for quick repairs and upgrades of Ukraine’s port infrastructure in the letter, the European Commission President said:
“Improved port capacities will speed up exports of food and other goods which Ukraine supplies to global markets. Over time, our investment should allow Ukraine’s ports to return to export quantities that were in place before the war.”
On the same day, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said that Ukraine secured agreements to receive warships to protect cargo ships navigating the Black Sea grain corridor.