Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday he spoke with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron about “ways to ensure the functioning” of the corridor established by Kiev in the Black Sea to ensure safe navigation after Moscow’s withdrawal from grain export agreement.
“We also discussed ways to ensure the functioning of the grain corridor and strengthen the security of the Odessa region” in southwestern Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky said on X, formerly Twitter, after his telephone conversation with Emmanuel Macron.
This week, Ukraine said four more ships had used its sea lane, which was set up on a provisional basis last month.
Volodymyr Zelensky also thanked his French counterpart for France’s “crucial military aid” to his country and said the two men had “discussed the next steps” that will be taken in this regard.
Emmanuel Macron “reiterated France’s determination to continue to support Ukraine on the military, industrial and economic levels over the long term, so that Ukraine can recover its full sovereignty”, indicated the French presidency. “In this perspective, and following the commitments made in the G7 format in Vilnius last July, the President of the Republic and the Ukrainian President have decided to launch discussions on a bilateral arrangement,” added the Elysée.
In July, the G7 countries, including France, pledged to provide long-term military support to Ukraine, negotiated by each of the countries with Kyiv in the framework of bilateral agreements detailing the weapons they will provide .
This interview came on the eve of a summit in Russia between President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who wants to revive the grain agreement, and after the Russians bombarded the Odessa region with drones overnight from Saturday to Sunday. The Russian and Turkish heads of state are to meet on Monday in Sochi, a seaside resort on the Black Sea.
