Zelensky announces creation of grain corridor from Ukraine via Moldova, Romania

MOSCOW. Oct 10 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has announced his intention to create a new grain corridor via Moldova and Romania.

"In the Ukraine-Romania-Moldova triangle we are able to provide a very powerful basis for developing not only our countries and peoples, but the whole of Europe," Zelensky was quoted by Ukrainian media as saying at a press conference in Bucharest on Tuesday after talks with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.

"And a grain corridor from Ukraine via Moldova and Romania will start operating soon," he said.

For his part, Iohannis affirmed that Romania was willing to work with international partners and would make every effort to facilitate the Ukrainian grain exports to the global markets and, simultaneously, to meet the justified expectations of Romanian farmers.

Thus, Romania is backing the Ukrainian economy and the acute needs of vulnerable countries, Iohannis said.

The parties agreed to double the capacity for transit through the Romanian ports up to 4 million tonnes of agricultural products, he also said. As of now, almost 60% of the total volume of grain exports from Ukraine goes in transit across Romania, he said.

"Since the crisis broke out, over 27 million tonnes of grain from Ukraine have been transited to our country," he said.