Following destruction of port facilities in Odesa and Chornomorsk by the Russian Federation, Ukraine has been forced to consider alternative access to sea routes.  Croatia has agreed to assist in transporting large quantities of wheat and sunflower seed westward to the Adriatic. This would be a difficult undertaking especially given the difference in rail gauge between Ukraine and neighboring nations in the West.

Dmytro Kuleba stated, “Now we will work to establish the most efficient routes to ports and make the most of all opportunities.”  He added, “Every contribution to unlocking exports, every door opened is a real effective contribution to the world’s food security.”

Ukraine has made use of the northern-most navigable channel of the Danube Delta, but these facilities have also been subject to missile attack.

Even if the Black Sea Grain Initiative were to be resurrected, exports from Black Sea ports would be impeded by deliberate destruction by the Russian Federation.  This has implications for the balance between world demand for agricultural commodities produced by Ukraine and their availability.