Lithuania has been advancing in recent days a practical proposal to “break through” the naval blockade Russia is imposing on Ukrainian ports, led by the port of Odessa in the west of the country, to allow billions of Ukrainian grain exports to help prevent famine and rising prices in developing countries. Earlier this week, the foreign minister of the Baltic state, which is considered a staunch opponent of Russia within the EU and NATO, met with his British counterpart. According to reports in the British media, the proposal was not rejected.
“Time is pressing,” Lithuanian Minister Gabrielios Landsbergis told the Guardian on Monday, “We are on our way to a new harvest, and there is no practical way to export grain other than through the Black Sea port in Odessa.” He said that contrary to proposals made in Europe in recent days, to transport the grain in trucks – “there is no suitable alternative way of exporting”. He added that “what is needed now is to show that we are ready to take steps to take care of the global diet.”
Ukraine is one of the five largest exporters of wheat and cereals in the world, but its export options have been blocked due to the naval blockade imposed by Russia on its ports. Russia has physically taken control of the port of Mariupol in the east of the country, after months of fighting, and is imposing a remote siege on the port of Odessa. It also reportedly mined the area near the port. International organizations have warned of the consequences including famine and civil unrest in poor countries that rely on wheat from Ukraine and Russia, which has also stopped exporting to the West.
Risk of starvation in African, Asian and Middle Eastern countries
Thus, the Lithuanian proposal, which could lead to a direct confrontation with Russian forces, is to create a convoy of battleships and mine clearances by a “Western coalition” of countries, which will accompany the export of wheat and other grains from Ukraine and guarantee the peace of cargo ships. This coalition will not operate under the auspices of NATO, but independently. The Lithuanian Foreign Minister warned that in the coming weeks, after the harvest, there will be no place to store the grain and this will destroy inventory and further the road to famine in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
British Foreign Secretary Liz Tras did not reject the proposal, even saying that “what we need to do now is address the issue of global food security, and Britain is working on an urgent solution to get the grains out of Ukraine”. She added that British ships may participate in such an effort, if the port is free of mines and the course of action is practical. She estimated that this would depend on the prior approval of the Americans. Commentators have mentioned that such a move would also depend on the approval of Turkey, which controls entry and exit from the Black Sea.