Kyiv, 22 August 2022 (TDI): Ireland received the first food supplies from Ukraine that left the ports of Ukraine through Navi-Star’s shipment and arrived at Foynes Port, Co Limerick on Saturday afternoon.
The Foreign Minister of Ukraine announced the arrival of grain supplies in Ireland through official sources.
The vessel Navi-Star with #Ukrainian corn arrived in Ireland 🇮🇪.
Despite Russian aggression #Ukraine proves to be a reliable partner. We will spare no effort in countering Russia’s plans to use hunger as a weapon. #RussiasFamineGame #StandWithUkraine@dfatirl pic.twitter.com/zAU1KsBvDM
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) August 21, 2022
Ukrainian foreign ministry added that they had supplied the shipments of corn to Ireland. Ukraine assured the continuous supplies of food to its partners even in the state of war with Russia.
The Embassy of Ukraine in Ireland also posted through its official Twitter account that Ukraine has shown a willingness to continue to respect its partnership with allied states.
The official source of the Ukrainian Embassy in Ireland pointed out Ukraine’s commitment to its international partners.
Ukraine’s Ambassador to Ireland, Larysa Gerasko, and a few other Ireland politicians also greeted Ukraine’s corn cargo.
#Ukraine remains committed to fulfilling its international obligations as a reliable international partner amid ru aggression.Ambassador @GeraskoLarysa and Irish politicians came to #Foynes to greet the cargo of 🇺🇦 corn to 🇮🇪. There is no place for #RussiasHungerGames pic.twitter.com/Lo0zhSQ0Hr
— UKR Embassy in Ireland (@UKRinIRL) August 20, 2022
Grain and Black Sea Blockage
The imposition of the Black Sea blockade came up due to the outbreak of war between Ukraine and Russia.
The liftoff of the Black Sea blockade was taken over recently as the United Nations and Turkey used their diplomatic channels. UN Secretary-General António Guterres regarded the step as a “victory for diplomacy”.
As a result of this diplomacy by the UN, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN reached a deal to end the blockade that has prevented nearly 20 million tons of grain from leaving the ports of Ukraine through the Black Sea.
This blockade also created tremendous global pressure on the food supply chain creating chaos and threats to food security on a large scale.
See More: UN, Turkiye, and Ukraine hold trilateral talks
After the signing of the deal for the ending of the blockade, the supply operations continued. The start of food shipments along with animal feed was started from the Odesa Port in Ukraine. The shipment of corn in a Panama-flagged vessel reached Foynes Port in Ireland.
The sailing of the food shipment had been considered an important step for the continuation of the global food supply.
Ambassador Gerasko sadi that she is jubilant to see that that Ireland is among the first countries to receive Ukrainian corn by sea, as Ireland strongly supports Ukraine.
It is also reported that two other vessels that left the Ukraine port of Chornmorsk, were bound for Britain and Turkey, with 24,000 tonnes of grain between them.
Due to this war, the cost of staple foods, including cooking oil, rice, sugar, and flour has nearly doubled across the globe and there are hundreds of thousands of people who are on the brink of famine.
This shipment is a positive sign in the ongoing crisis, especially for a global grain supply chain that has been under significant stress since the onset of war.
