Q: Is France prepared to offer naval assistance in order to secure convoys transporting grain from Ukraine?
A: By imposing a blockade on Ukrainian ports as part of its aggression against Ukraine and by destroying infrastructure, Russia has seriously disrupted global grain supplies. Russia bears full responsibility for this disruption. Ukraine's inability to export its grain is a direct consequence of Russian military operations in Ukraine and the Black Sea, and is completely unrelated to EU and G7 sanctions.
Against this backdrop, France and its partners are studying all possible means to facilitate grain exports from Ukraine. We are considering various options, in close cooperation with our partners and the Ukrainian authorities.