West to provide Ukraine with military ships for escorting vessels carrying grain in Black Sea, says Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Western partners had agreed to provide Ukraine with military ships to “guarantee the safety” of vessels transporting grain in the Black Sea, in answer to a question at a press conference following the international “Grain from Ukraine” summit in Kyiv. According to Zelensky, partners also agreed to help protect the Odesa region with additional air defense systems.

Zelensky said the creation of a “grain corridor” without Russia’s participation was one of Ukraine’s biggest achievements this year.

Russia withdrew from the grain deal in July, and the Russian Defense Ministry effectively declared all ships traveling to Ukrainian Black Sea ports military targets. Russia also began heavily shelling the Odesa region, including its port infrastructure.

In August, Ukrainian authorities announced the creation of temporary corridors in the Black Sea. They noted that these routes still face threats from Russian military attacks and drifting naval mines.