Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the possibility of providing free access for Ukrainian agricultural products to European Union countries during a meeting with several EU leaders on Wednesday.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Romanian President Klaus lohannis, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel and Zelensky met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The talks were primarily focused on “preserving the single market principle and free access of Ukrainian agricultural products to the EU market,” according to the office of the Ukrainian Presidency.
Zelensky noted that “the Joint Coordination Platform for Export and Transit of Ukrainian Agricultural Products” has been established and that it serves as “an effective mechanism for maintaining an ongoing dialogue.” He added that it resolves “all problematic issues in the field of agricultural products.”
Zelensky emphasized the importance of protecting “the competitive advantages of each EU member in conditions of free trade.”
In particular, Zelensky discussed “finding effective solutions in the field of logistics, increasing the capacity of ports, including the Black Sea port of Constanța, and river transport on the Danube River” with Romanian and Bulgarian officials.
The participants discussed alternative transportation routes through Romania and Bulgaria, which would “significantly increase transit volumes and reduce the burden on the domestic markets of these countries,” the Ukrainian Presidency office said.
“Over 60% of transit of Ukrainian grain that passes through the EU’s Solidarity Lanes” is through Romania, Zelensky said.
The so-called “solidarity lanes” – established by the EU in May 2022 – are designed to provide alternative land routes for the export of Ukrainian grain after Moscow blockaded docks in the Black Sea region.
The measures include new border posts, flexible customs checks, logistics support, prioritization of Ukrainian agricultural exports and new storage facilities on the EU’s side of the border.