The other day, U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink, head of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power, and Vice-Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine — Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov visited Odesa. USAID head Samantha Power announced during a visit to the Odesa seaport that the United States will provide an additional $250 million to help Ukrainian farmers suffering from blocked grain supplies through the Black Sea.
"Investments through the USAID initiative for the agricultural sector of Ukraine will be aimed at developing infrastructure and expanding other export routes. We are collectively interested in Ukrainian farmers staying in business," said Samantha Power during the briefing.
This information was also confirmed by Twitter US Ambassador, Bridget Brink.
"The day after Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, USAID announced the allocation of an additional $250 million to support the agricultural sector, which is the basis of Ukraine's economy and the future prosperity of the country," Brink wrote.
In the press service of USAID reported, that the funds were allocated within the framework of the Agricultural Sustainability Initiative in Ukraine (AGRI-Ukraine). The total amount of resources invested by the US government under the AGRI-Ukraine initiative is $350 million.
According to Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, the USA also sees the prospect of expanding and modernizing the Danube port cluster.
"The numbers speak for themselves. Last year, we had a total cargo volume of 16 million tons. Only in the first half of 2023, we have an increase in transportation, today it is 15 million tons, for the year we expect an indicator of more than 25 million tons, which is more than a quarter of the entire turnover. Such numbers became possible thanks to the launch of additional capacities and the processing of new cargo nomenclature," said Oleksandr Kubrakov.
Also it is noted, that more than 20 new sea terminals have already been put into operation, in particular, a container terminal has opened in the port of Rhenia (up to that time, the Danube ports did not handle containers at all). In May of this year, an absolute monthly record of cargo transportation was set - 3,2 million tons, and a daily record - 112 thousand tons.
Oleksandr Kubrakov discussed with the American guests the problems of blocking the grain corridor by Russia and finding alternative ways of transporting Ukrainian agricultural products.
"Ukraine is currently negotiating with the UN Secretary General and the leadership of Turkey on the continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and after these consultations we will understand what we will do together with our partners next. We are ready for plan B, we are ready to act if the UN and Turkey support us. We already had the experience in November, when only the UN and Turkey inspected ships for two days. And, apparently, these were two days of the fastest inspections — 80 vessels and we proved that all the problems we have before and after are completely artificial and created by the Russians," said Minister Kubrakov.
Over the past year, more than a thousand ships exported about 33 million tons of Ukrainian agricultural products to 45 countries around the world. Over 60% of agricultural exports through the "grain corridor" are directed to Asian and African countries.
Immediately after Russia's announcement to stop participating in the grain agreement, it began shell Odesa and Mykolaiv. During two nights, July 19 and 20, residential buildings, warehouses, and the port infrastructure of the cities came under fire. On the night of July 19, Russian missiles destroyed 60 tons of grain destined for China in Odesa port.
To always be aware of the most important things, read us at Telegram
