A good five months after the start of the Russian war of aggression, the first ship with grain on board left Ukraine on Monday. The long-awaited end to the grain blockade triggered a positive response worldwide. The political leadership in Kyiv also expressed cautious optimism.
Meanwhile, the dispute over Russian warfare continues. The US accused Russia of "nuclear saber-rattling" while the Kremlin called for no nuclear war. According to US information, Russian soldiers in Ukraine are said to be using a nuclear power plant as a shield for their own artillery. Tuesday marks the 160th day of the war in Ukraine.
End of the grain blockade: Zelenskyj sees a positive signal
After the resumption of grain exports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj was cautiously optimistic that he would be able to solve the global supply crisis and boost his own economy. "The port has started to work and this is a positive sign that there is a chance to stop the development of the food crisis in the world," Zelenskyy said in his daily video message on Monday evening. According to him, 16 more ships are waiting in the ports to be dispatched.
Zelenskyj made it clear that the implementation of the grain agreement, which provides for an end to the Russian naval blockade, is also of enormous importance for Ukraine. It's not just about billions in foreign exchange earnings. "About half a million Ukrainians are involved in growing export agricultural products, and if we add related industries, that's an additional million jobs," he said.
A spokesman for the Russian military assured on Monday evening that Russia would honor its commitments to implement the agreement. Moscow has taken all measures to guarantee the safety of shipping in the Black Sea. Corresponding corridors have been created for the Ukrainian ports.
In New York, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock welcomed the departure of the first grain freighter as a "small gesture of humanity". Meanwhile, Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir emphasized the need to develop alternative transport routes for grain from Ukraine. "It's about permanent alternatives, not temporary ones," said the Green politician of the "Rheinische Post". "I want to persuade the EU Commission to push for the expansion of alternative export routes." Ukraine should no longer be dependent on Russia on this issue.
Critical moment Russlands Atompolitik
Meanwhile, criticism of Moscow also came from New York: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia of using its nuclear weapons for ruthless threats of war. Earlier statements by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin that military aid could have unprecedented consequences for Ukraine are "dangerous nuclear saber-rattling," said Blinken on Monday at the start of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference in New York.
The statements are contrary to international agreements. "There is no place in our world for nuclear deterrence based on force and intimidation or blackmail. We must stand together to oppose it."
Also speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Blinken said the US government was also "deeply concerned" that Russia had seized several nuclear power plants in the war against Ukraine. With regard to the Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhia, for example, there are credible reports that Russia is using the plant as a kind of protective shield - that is, shooting at Ukrainian forces from close to the plant. The Ukrainians could not fire back because it could lead to a terrible nuclear accident.
The media had previously reported that Russian artillery in particular had entrenched themselves in the area of the nuclear power plant and were shooting at Ukrainian positions from there.
German artillery systems in Ukraine
The Ukrainians, meanwhile, are looking forward to strengthening their own artillery systems. According to information from Kyiv, multiple rocket launchers of the type Mars II arrived from Germany on Monday. Defense Minister Olexej Resnikov thanked his German colleague Christine Lambrecht for the arms assistance.
Lambrecht had already announced the delivery last week. Accordingly, three Mars II systems went to Ukraine. In terms of heavy weapons, Germany has also handed over the Gepard anti-aircraft tanks and Panzerhaubitze 2000 artillery pieces to Kyiv.
Putin does not want to start a nuclear war
Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin countered fears that Moscow might use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, which had been growing since the beginning of the war. "We assume that there can be no winners in a nuclear war and that it must never be started," Putin wrote in a greeting to participants at the NPT conference in New York published on the Kremlin's website on Monday. Russia will stick to its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Moscow sets new entry bans for Brits
Despite this, tensions with the West continue to increase: On Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry blacklisted a further 39 politicians, businessmen and journalists from Great Britain, including ex-Prime Minister David Cameron. In Great Britain alone, 255 people are now affected by the Russian sanctions. In addition, the Russian leadership declared the non-profit British organization Calvert 22 Foundation, which specializes primarily in cultural exchange with Eastern Europe, to be an undesirable organization in Russia, which is effectively tantamount to a ban.
What will be important on Tuesday
Latvia's parliament, the Sejm, wants to discuss whether to declare Russia a terrorist state. Such a classification would further increase tensions between the two countries.
Paratroopers' Day is celebrated in Russia. In Moscow, official military events are held in Red Square, Victory Park and Gorki Park, among other places. Because many former paratroopers traditionally use the holiday to get drunk and start fights, the police presence in Moscow and St. Petersburg has been increased.
The first grain carrier to leave Ukraine since the war began is set to turn up in Istanbul. The ship is expected to be checked on the Bosporus on Wednesday night - not on Tuesday afternoon as originally planned.
